The reference painting for this year's mural: "... It Surely is a Train" by Temple Reece.
In 2017, a group of 20 mural workshop participants worked together to recreate the photograph from the historic 1925 Fiddler's Convention. The workshop spanned two weeks and was led by the artist who created the first three of Johnson County's Musical Heritage Murals, Cristy Dunn.
2016 Tennessee's First Sunrise: Honoring Fred, Price, Clint Howard, and Sons
by Cristy Dunn
The 2016 mural and celebration honored Fred Price and Clint Howard. Fred and Clint, along with Tom Ashley made up the trio that was discovered by folklorist, Ralph Rinzler in the early ‘60s. They knew a good guitar picker playing on the street over around Boone at the time by the name of Doc Watson. Doc didn’t even own an acoustic guitar at the time, as he was focused on more modern music. With some direction from Rinzler, the newly formed group hit the road. They received rave reviews from coast to coast. Their album, Old Time Music at Clarence Ashleys was recently placed on the National Recording Registry.
Later, Fred and Clint with sons, Kenny and Clarence would record the Ballad of Finley Preston. The album told the story of the last legal hanging in Tennessee, which happened in the vicinity of the Courthouse. The late great folklorist, Joe Wilson, native son of Johnson County and National Heritage Fellow, produced the album, just number 009 on the Rounder record label.
Later, Fred and Clint with sons, Kenny and Clarence would record the Ballad of Finley Preston. The album told the story of the last legal hanging in Tennessee, which happened in the vicinity of the Courthouse. The late great folklorist, Joe Wilson, native son of Johnson County and National Heritage Fellow, produced the album, just number 009 on the Rounder record label.
"Everyone who knew Fred and Clint remembers not only their music, but their legacy of kindness and humility. They were good people who lived authentically, and their music had a way of putting us in touch with the most decent part of ourselves."
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2015 Birth a Ballad:
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The Long Journey Home band performs at the unveiling ceremony. Kyman Matherly, John Winer, Kenny Price, Jack Proffitt, Lois Dunn, Stephen Long, and Andrew Matherly
2013
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Clarence "Tom" Ashley began performing at medicine shows in the Southern Appalachian region as early as 1911, and gained initial fame during the late 1920s as a solo recording artist. He was "rediscovered" during the folk revival of the 1960s and spent the last years of his life playing at folk music concerts with the young Doc Watson, and two other Johnson County musicians, Clint Howard and Fred Price. The group appeared in Carnegie Hall in New York and at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island. In 1933, Ashley made the first known recording of "The House of the Rising Sun", which he claimed he learned from his grandfather, Enoch. Ashley and his band helped to popularize the southern hymn, "Amazing Grace." Country music singer Roy Acuff once worked medicine shows with Ashley, who likely taught him "Greenback Dollar." Among other musicians directly influecned by Ashley are Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, and Joan Baez. In March 2013, the LIbrary of Congress announced that the album, Old Time Music at Clarence Ashley's would be added to the National Recording Registry. The album consists of a series of early 1960s recordings performed by Ashley and bandmates, Doc Watson, Clint Howard, Fred Price, Gaither Carlton, and Tommy Moore.
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