Born in Edmonson County in 1925, Odis Blanton was inspired to become a musician while listening to radio broadcasts of the Grand Ole Opry: “As I grew up, we had old battery radios and everything. And maybe we’re the only people in the community that had a radio even. And families around would come in […]
Born Ernest Rueben Crowdus on April 17, 1865, in the Shake Rag District of Bowling Green, KY, Hogan took his initial musical influences from a number of genres including Jazz, Blues, and Vaudeville performers who traveled through the region as riverboat and railroad workers. In 1877, at age 12, he left Kentucky to sing in
Barren County-born Cynthia May Carver, better known by her stage name of Cousin Emmy, broke an early glass ceiling of musical entertainer, a role that had been reserved for men. This paved the way for Country stars such as Kitty Wells and Dolly Parton. Cousin Emmy began performing as a child, playing banjo to accompany
A central figure whose work as a performer influenced two distinct regional genres, Bluegrass and Western Kentucky thumbpicking, was the coal miner and itinerant fiddler Arnold Shultz (1886-1931). His contributions to these two musical styles cannot be understated. A laborer by day and a musician by night, Shultz first learned guitar from his uncle while
Another Bowling Green native is Peter Hampton, born in 1871. While not considered a Blues artist during his lifetime, Peter is the first known African American artist to record a harmonica song; because of this, he is considered an early pioneer who paved the way for other Blues artists and harmonica players. During his lifetime,
Born in Bowling Green’s Shake Rag district in 1891, Porter Grainger (also called “Harold Gray”) was a Blues and Jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader. While not for certain when he started learning to play piano and compose, it was likely during his time living in Bowling Green. By 1912, Porter was living in Louisville, KY
Born in Barren County, Kenny got into music as a teenager. While attending the University of Kentucky for engineering, he started playing in bands. After graduation, he was offered the chance to join a touring band called Buster Brown. After touring, Kenny relocated to Bowling Green, working as an engineer by day and playing in
Marc is a drummer and music producer who was born and raised in Bowling Green. He served as the drummer of Sgt. Arms and was in Mirror Image, which regularly played the Literary Club. He eventually set up a recording studio known as High Street Studio in his basement. The first band he recorded there
Michael learned how to play music from his mother and formed his own band in middle school. He played his first professional gig at age 19, eventually playing with Robert Phillips, Jeff Smith, Alonzo Pennington, and Tommy Johnson as a blues musician. He has also played Blues competitions in the area. He takes inspiration from
David’s first memory is his aunt’s music school in Russellville, KY, where she gave piano lessons to him. He later played cornet and baritone in the school band, and also learned drums and guitar. He started a garage band with friends and played a lot of frat parties and house shows. One of his bandmates
