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John Morris
2020 NEA National Heritage Fellow
2020 NEA National Heritage Fellow
Photo by Chris Dorst - Charleston Gazette-Mail
Old-time musician John Morris of Ivydale, WV, is one of nine 2020 National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellows, the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. These lifetime honor awards are given in recognition of both artistic excellence and efforts to sustain cultural traditions for future generations.
An acclaimed fiddler, banjo player, guitarist, songwriter, and life-long resident of Clay County, West Virginia, John Morris is the living carrier of the old-time fiddle and banjo tradition particular to his rural home county and the surrounding area.
Morris continues to play a crucial role in sustaining and promoting West Virginia traditional music and is one of the few fiddlers to continue an older regional style, infusing his playing with all the sounds of Clay County—its environment, its history, and its people.
John Morris can be found on Youtube by typing in either "John D. Morris", "John Morris", "the Morris Brothers" and "Where the twisted Laurel Grows".
An acclaimed fiddler, banjo player, guitarist, songwriter, and life-long resident of Clay County, West Virginia, John Morris is the living carrier of the old-time fiddle and banjo tradition particular to his rural home county and the surrounding area.
Morris continues to play a crucial role in sustaining and promoting West Virginia traditional music and is one of the few fiddlers to continue an older regional style, infusing his playing with all the sounds of Clay County—its environment, its history, and its people.
John Morris can be found on Youtube by typing in either "John D. Morris", "John Morris", "the Morris Brothers" and "Where the twisted Laurel Grows".
Read about John Morris NEA National Heritage Fellow ...
[1] "West Virginia Fiddle & Banjo Player John Morris Among the 2020 NEA National Heritage Fellows, the Nation’s Highest Honor in the Folk and Traditional Arts" - wvfolklife.org
[2] "Clay fiddler awarded National Heritage Fellowship for lifetime of music" -
Bill Lynch Staff, WV Gazette-Mail, Jul 4, 2020
[3] "Clay County musician honored with national arts fellowship" - Alex Thomas, WV Metro News, 2020 July 5
[3] John Morris - wvencyclopedia
[1] "West Virginia Fiddle & Banjo Player John Morris Among the 2020 NEA National Heritage Fellows, the Nation’s Highest Honor in the Folk and Traditional Arts" - wvfolklife.org
[2] "Clay fiddler awarded National Heritage Fellowship for lifetime of music" -
Bill Lynch Staff, WV Gazette-Mail, Jul 4, 2020
[3] "Clay County musician honored with national arts fellowship" - Alex Thomas, WV Metro News, 2020 July 5
[3] John Morris - wvencyclopedia
Posted 2020 July 8
Congratulations Brian Conaway
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Fairmont Arts & Humanities Commission
Announces 2020 Arts and Humanities Awardees The Fairmont Arts & Humanities Commission has named 11 area residents who are to be honored for their roles in supporting and furthering the arts in Marion County over the past year. Folk musician and fiddler Brian Conaway plays fiddle with the traditional Appalachian music group, The Kennedy Barn String Band, which is proud to be associated with the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State. The group has played for square dances, Folklife Center and community events, and at local traditional music festivals. Brian is grateful to be a small part of the Folklife Center’s mission of preserving and celebrating our region’s rich culture. Brian went to his first traditional music jam session 12 years ago and was thrilled to discover a friendly community of traditional musicians throughout West Virginia with whom he still plays. Brian attends traditional music festivals throughout West Virginia, participates in festival jams and is thus is familiar to many FOOTMAD folks. Congratulations Brian! Read more in the Fairmont Times West Virginian A more complete bio for Brian on the Fairmont Arts and Humanities facebook page Posted: 2020 July 15
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Update: 2020-07-24
