Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Appalachian Studies
Date of Award
12-2021
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Lee Bidgood
Committee Members
Rebecca Adkins Fletcher, Ted Olson
Abstract
Through the mid-twentieth century, a significant pattern of migration occurred between Appalachia and the Pacific Northwest, with Washington’s thriving timber industry offering compelling economic opportunities. Many workers and families from western North Carolina settled in the small mountain town of Darrington, Washington, frequently accompanied by their banjos and guitars. As a group of young bluegrass enthusiasts from Seattle established relationships with Darrington’s “Tar Heel” musicians, a collaborative music community formed, laying the foundation for the region’s contemporary bluegrass scene.
Drawn from a series of ethnographic interviews, this project illuminates the development of a bluegrass community in western Washington, while identifying several of its key contributors. The resultant narrative explores the musical legacy of Appalachian migration to the Pacific Northwest, culminating in its convergence with the urban folk music revival of the 1960s. This work contributes to a growing body of scholarship that challenges the traditional geo-cultural assumptions encompassing bluegrass music.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Edgar, James W., "All Roads Lead to Darrington: Building a Bluegrass Community in Western Washington" (2021). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4005. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4005
Copyright
Copyright by the author.
Included in
Appalachian Studies Commons, Ethnomusicology Commons, Folklore Commons, Migration Studies Commons, Social History Commons, United States History Commons, Women's History Commons