Leonard Simmons oral history interview, 2003 June 24

Description

Leonard Simmons discusses his role as owner and manager of the True Bluegrass Music Hall in Eleazer, a town in Montgomery County, North Carolina. He talks about how the music hall was started in 1988 as a place for local residents to congregate on the weekends. He primarily books groups who play bluegrass and old-timey country music, some from the nearby area and others from as far away as Australia. Mr. Simmons believes getting together and listening to music brings the community together. He also discusses environmental changes he has seen in the area since his youth and how he would like the area to stay the same because, he believes, people in the future will have more appreciation for rural areas such as Eleazer.

In collections

Uwharrie

Details

Title: Leonard Simmons oral history interview, 2003 June 24
Interviewee: Simmons, Leonard, 1946-2012
Interviewer: Cumming, Gabriel
Place of Publication: Charlotte, North Carolina
Publisher: J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Date of Interview: 2003-06-24
Physical Description: 1 audio file (2:11:50) : digital, MP3 + 1 transcript (53 pages : PDF)
Object Type: sound recording-nonmusical
Genre: spoken word
Language: eng
Interviewee Biography: Leonard Simmons was a 57-year-old man at the time of interview, which took place at True Bluegrass Music Hall in Eleazer, North Carolina. He was born in Randolph County, North Carolina in 1946. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and was employed with Mid-State Paper Box in Randleman, N.C. until his retirement. He also owned and operated the True Bluegrass Music Hall in Eleazer and had a Saturday morning radio program on WKXR (1260 AM Kicks Country) in Asheboro.
Abstract: Leonard Simmons discusses his role as owner and manager of the True Bluegrass Music Hall in Eleazer, a town in Montgomery County, North Carolina. He talks about how the music hall was started in 1988 as a place for local residents to congregate on the weekends. He primarily books groups who play bluegrass and old-timey country music, some from the nearby area and others from as far away as Australia. Mr. Simmons believes getting together and listening to music brings the community together. He also discusses environmental changes he has seen in the area since his youth and how he would like the area to stay the same because, he believes, people in the future will have more appreciation for rural areas such as Eleazer.
Digital Object Notes: MP3 access copy created on ingest from WAV preservation master. Interview originally recorded on minidisc and reformatted using a Digidesign 003 rack.
Interviewee Occupations: Businesspeople
Paper industry workers
Subjects--Names: Simmons, Leonard, 1946-2012
Subjects--Topics: Bluegrass music
Old-time music
Music facilities
Country music--Social aspects
Outdoor recreation
Land use, Rural
Public lands--Management
Hunters--Attitudes
Family farms
Gold mines and mining
Gold panning
Country life
Subjects--Geographic: North Carolina--Montgomery County
North Carolina--Eleazer
North Carolina--Asheboro
North Carolina--Uwharrie National Forest
Subjects--Genre: Interviews
Oral histories
Coverage--Dates: 1960-2010
Digital Collection Title: Catawba Lands Conservancy Perspectives on Land Project
Digital Collection Series Title: Uwharrie
Rights: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
This material is protected by copyright. Copyright is held by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Internet Media Type: audio/mpeg
Identifier: PL-SI0026

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