Family Soundtracks
Music, Memory, and Inspiration in My Fiction
Hi, reader! We’re opening THE MAILBAG again for extra fun content related to my serialized novel DANCING AT THE ORANGE PEEL. The Mailbag holds my unexpected discoveries while writing, research and history bits, travel updates and photos, and much more.
If this one is too long to fully show in your email, simply click “view entire message” at the end to see images and all. Today’s entry relates to Episode 8: Nosy Neighbors (and others). It isn’t necessary to read the episode first to enjoy this piece, but of course, I’d love it if you did.
Just getting started? Explore The Novel’s Episode Guide | THE Full MAILBAG
Family Soundtracks
As the daughter of a radio disc jockey and having many family members in singing groups and bands of various kinds, music has always had a large presence in my life.
My great-uncle Arval was one of the Whitey and Hogan duo who toured the southeast, made their radio debut in the 1930s, and recorded on Decca Records. Beginning in 1941, they lead The Briarhoppers, the house band for WBT Radio in Charlotte, NC.
They turned down an invitation to the Grand Ole Opry, which surprised me until I learned the reason. Accepting would have meant they’d be away from their families on Saturdays, and to them, the separation wasn’t worth the accolades—for sure, a laudable reason to rob me of my bragging rights. In 2003, they were given the North Carolina Arts Council Folk Heritage Award.
My second cousin, Arval’s granddaughter Kristin Scott Benson, carries on his music-making legacy as one of the country’s top banjo pickers. She has won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Banjo Player of the Year award SIX (!!) times and, in 2018, was awarded the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass.
Uncle Arval’s brother, my Papaw Hogan, was a preacherman and through my childhood, he, my Granny Hogan, and their various offspring comprised The Hogan Family, performing in Papaw’s church, at revivals, and anywhere else gospel music was welcome.
My Aunt Jan, who could listen to any song once and then play it perfectly on the piano, was among them. Until recently, My Uncle Jimmy continued picking and singing with a group called the Fishers of Men.
These are just a few of the family members I’ve been blessed with who have a penchant for song and a talent with instruments. The most direct musical influence in my family, though, has been my father, who spun records “on the air” for more than 50 years, beginning when he took his first job behind a microphone at age fifteen.
Many of my afterschool hours were spent with him inside the studio where he played those records and backstage at the shows he emcee’d. Little Gina was delighted when she learned that emcee = MC = Master of Ceremonies. My daddy is a Master!
He has played, met, introduced, and interviewed more performers than I can possibly name and was among the first broadcasters to attend the Country Music Association Awards when they began in the late 1960s. He has a great story about 14-year-old Tanya Tucker approaching him in the lobby of the hotel where the radio D.J.s were staying for the awards, asking him if he’d play her new record, “Delta Dawn.”
My Pop has hundreds of stories like this and is a fount of information about the radio biz and music overall, so fortunately, after he retired, he podcasted about it for a spell, with his radio buddy Randy Houston. They’ve given us historical record of a musical snapshot in time.
I often regret that in my childhood and teens, I didn’t give music more attention. Papaw tried to teach me guitar once and I took piano lessons for a year or so, but I just couldn’t get it. Guess I didn’t get that gene. My dad claims he didn’t either, but clearly, music runs in his veins, just in a different fashion. I only wish I’d paid more attention to all of it in my younger days, so I could’ve retained more of the stories that are now gone with the people who made them.
What I do have—and am cultivating further—is a deep appreciation for it, particularly for the history, the roots of Appalachian music. Some of us are meant to simply be the listeners, the admirers, the enthusiasts of music, it's history and its out-turns.
Like my Uncle Charlie . . . When I visited him over the 2023 Christmas holidays, he led me to his basement where he proudly displays his 1970s console stereo that I’m certain has entertained him with untold hours of tunes. I was gleeful at this unexpected encounter with a tangible replica of the stereo that the main characters in my novel have in their apartment.
Gwen and Libby’s stereo and an eclectic selection of records originally belonged to Libby’s deceased father, Carter Billings. Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, The Doors, and Miles Davis are among the collection. In Episode 8, “Nosy Neighbors,” Libby listens from her bedroom as Gwen flips through the records and drops an album onto the turntable. Marvin Gaye’s “You Don’t Know What Love Is” shows up in Episode 9, “Carter’s Eyes.”
The stereo appears in other chapters, too. The only difference between Gwen and Libby’s stereo and my Uncle Charlie’s is that, in addition to the turntable, my uncle’s has a reel-to-reel tape player inside. Have you ever seen one of these?
When Charlie showed me his prized console, I had major flashbacks to the mid 1970s. My mom and stepdad had a similar one, too. My younger brother and I would pull out the Captain and Tenille album “Love Will Keep Us Together,” drop the record on the turntable, and sing at the top of our lungs while dancing around the living room. I was 15, and my brother was only 6, but he knew every single word of that entire album. Sweet memories.
Having such an abundance of musical influence in my life, it feels right that music-related motifs are interwoven throughout my novel: the records Gwen listens to, Nate’s saxophone skills, the D.J. who lives in the apartment upstairs, gospel music at the Kent Creek churches, Denny’s 8-track player, and most significantly, The Orange Peel music club itself, which is very loosely based on the real Orange Peel in my hometown of Asheville, NC. I can’t wait to share more of the story with you.
Has music played a significant role in your life? Can you sing or play an instrument? When you were growing up, what was your fav music and how did you listen? on a stereo? phonograph/record player? vinyl, 8-track, cassette, CD? transistor or car radio?
Drenched in Place: Music for the Rescue
This is just a quick reminder about my recent mention of the beautiful album curated by Rising Appalachia for relief efforts in North Carolina related to Hurricane Helene. All proceeds to to BeLoved Asheville, Nanostead, and Riverlink, three nonprofits who have been helping on the ground in meaningful way since the hurricane hit. They never let up and they need support too. So be sure to check out “Drenched In Place” and purchase if you can.
Sample the music below then go HERE for more information and to buy the album.
You can read my detailed Note about it here:
As Chloe reminds us: “Music is the great healer.”
Thanks for reading. For more like this, check out THE MAILBAG
See how this article relates to my novel DANCING AT THE ORANGE PEEL by checking out Episode 8: Nosy Neighbors and Episode 9, “Carter’s Eyes.”
Start from the beginning: The Novel’s Episode Guide
Never miss an episode or the fun extras by subscribing…
I appreciate you!
Your grateful scribe,
The Briarhoppers are still mentioned occasionally on WBT, especially when they are airing retrospectives (often on the station's anniversary).
Thanks for reading, Carolyn! These old consoles are so cool, not only for the musical connection, but, man, they are big pieces of furniture! Do you know what happened to the one your aunt had?