The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History will continue its monthly
cultural heritage lecture series with musician and scholar Joe Dobbs on Wednesday,
Nov. 10, at 7 p.m., in the West Virginia State Theater at the Cultural Center,
State Capitol Complex, Charleston. The talk, “Appalachian Folk Music and
Tunes,” is free and open to the public.
Dobbs will present a historical music lecture about the evolution of melodies
and ballads that have been preserved here in the region of Appalachia. He will
trace the origin of common tunes back to Europe in the mid-1500s. He also will
discuss music of the Civil War era. In addition, he will play songs on the fiddle,
banjo and flute.
Well known for his fiddle music, Dobbs was born in Mississippi where his grandfather
also was a fiddler. He started playing the instrument when he was 10 years old
and living in Louisiana. He lived in many states throughout the South and Southwest
and moved to West Virginia in 1967.
Dobbs has been active in the Mountain State’s folk music scene for 30
years as a fiddler, recording artist, instructor and lecturer. In addition to
performing at festivals and universities in the United States and Canada, he
has toured Africa, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe, performing traditional
Appalachian folk music.
As owner of Fret’N Fiddle in St. Albans, Dobbs became well known as a
master guitar technician. Over the years, the store has become one of the nation’s
most familiar music stores for vintage instruments. Since 1983, Dobbs also has
served as host for the West Virginia Public Radio Network’s Music From
the Mountains. Whether he’s playing recorded music or presenting a live
musician, he celebrates Appalachian music and heritage in all its diverse forms.
For more information about the Joe Dobbs talk, “Appalachian Folk Music
and Tunes” or the cultural heritage lecture series at the Cultural Center,
call (304) 558-0162.
The next lecture in the series will be held Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m., featuring
James Mitchell, curator of the West Virginia State Museum. Mitchell will present
the talk “Antiques as Christmas Presents,” and have several tables
of objects from the West Virginia State Museum collection on display.
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia
Department of Arts, Culture and History, brings together the state’s past,
present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and
history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. The Cultural Center is
West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. Visit the Division’s
website at www.wvculture.org for more information about programs of the Division.
The Department of Arts, Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Employer.
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