The Carter Family was in the right place at the right time…or were they? When A.P. was a child and a young man he would walk ancient footpaths and railroads between valleys in the Appalachian mountains of western Virginia. This is how he met his wife and band mate Sara. Together with his brother’s wife Maybelle they became one of the most renowned musical groups to ever represent American roots music. A.P took advantage of a new kind of railroad that was being established in the 1920’s. This new connection between regions and cultures all across the United States, north into Canada, and south into Mexico was no longer bound together by wood and steel. It was found floating, invisible, through the airwaves and landing in living rooms and shops for all to hear. Radio revolutionized how we connect with one another and how we listen and engage with music. Music left the front porch, the church, and the community hall. It left the hands of local musicians and entered little boxes.
The music that A.P. Carter mined out of those western Virginia Mountains had been there for several generations. Much of it had traveled from the British Isles and was then nourished by the rich Appalachian culture to become what we call today traditional old time music. When the Carter family made that fateful trip to Bristol, Tennessee to sing into that “can” they took a culture with them and delivered it to the masses. The fame and misfortune that came along with their success drove them to inner turmoil as A.P. traveled relentlessly searching for new songs. The pressures of fame and greed took its toll on Sara and A.P. They split up and Maybelle was left to carry on the tradition with her daughters.
Today we have a new railroad in which we connect. In fact I’m riding down its tracks right now. The Internet has revolutionized how we connect with the world. We all we see benefits from this new railroad, but let us be mindful of the costs. The Carter’s left us a legacy of amazing music that we can use to worship, entertain, and just love each other with. Those artists out there using this new railroad to connect with the world must beware of the dangerous things that may be waiting around the bend.