The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Marketplace
    • Autos
    • Jobs
    • Real Estate
    • Classifieds
    • Shopping
    • Dining Out
    • Education
    • TWT Store
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • National

    HOLMES: Miscalculating engagement

  • National

    NORRIS: The Senate and the START treaty

  • National

    Obama: U.S. 'forever grateful' to veterans

  • Business

    Employers pitch in on pet health care

  • World

    Jordanian sees Jerusalem as a powder keg

  • World

    Report finds dirty money, water in China

  • Politics

    Silicon Valley executives take up politics

Wednesday, February 4, 2004

Unlikely patron hawks folk series

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos

More Stories

  • Swift wins entertainer of year award
  • TWT reporter recounts sniper's last moments
  • Obama wants Afghan war exit plan clarified
  • Dobbs leaves CNN before contract ends

By

Folklorist Joe Wilson concludes his resume with the fact that he's never been named to "Who's Who" anywhere. But in his East Tennessee drawl, he easily gets down to what's what.

As executive director of the Silver Spring-based National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), Mr. Wilson has cobbled together an astonishing collection of 17 CDs ranging from Appalachian to Cajun, Irish to Mexican, rockabilly to New Orleans jazz, gospel to Piedmont blues and Native American northern Plains courting flute. Each disc comes with thoughtful liner notes.

Here's the astonishing part: They are produced for and sold in the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain nationwide.

"They like how this has worked," says Mr. Wilson, 65. "These records are doing well and selling more than an average independent label would." And at $11.99, they're offered for somewhat less than the going rate for most CDs.

The project is giving broader exposure to bands such as Washington's own Seldom Scene and Washington-born musician David McLaughlin, nominated for two Grammys as mandolin player with the Johnson Mountain Boys. Mr. McLaughlin plays or sings on four of the Cracker Barrel Heritage imprint's first set of releases.

"As an artist, it's kind of like having a winning lottery ticket," says Mr. McLaughlin, 45, who points out that with its 487 restaurants and country stores in 41 states, Cracker Barrel has more locations than Tower Records' 113 stores worldwide.

"It's a great marketing idea for Cracker Barrel and the artists," he says. "Cracker Barrel will sell more in one year than everything I've done in my entire lifetime."

Cracker Barrel Vice President for Merchandising Debra K. Kidwell says, "We see our music company as another way to offer our customers a taste of what is good in America."

One of the 17 discs, the eponymous "Springfield Exit," was recorded in Mr. McLaughlin's Winchester, Va., studio. The band, comprising Mr. McLaughlin, Bristol, Va., singer Linda Lay -- who has a disc of her own in the collection -- and Mrs. Lay's husband, David, actually came together as a result of their work on other Cracker Barrel discs. The band has since performed at the Birchmere in Alexandria and is booked to play in May at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester. They've even given impromptu concerts in Cracker Barrel restaurants when they've stopped to eat while touring.

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Commenting is disabled for this entry.
If you feel there is still something worth mentioning about this entry please contact the author or the site admin.

Ask a Question

You Report

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
  2. EXCLUSIVE: Warner: Obama misplayed health care debate
  3. D.C. sniper executed in Virginia
  4. Airport rules changed after Ron Paul aide detained
  5. PRUDEN: Fatal reluctance to see evil
More Top Stories »
  1. Families meet as sniper's execution nears
  2. Michigan farm expert opens Marijuana U.
  3. DeMint tries to ban 'permanent politicians'
  4. High court refuses to halt sniper execution
  5. Kennedy's disability plan could snag health bill

Most Shared

  1. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
  2. Michigan farm expert opens Marijuana U.
  3. EDITORIAL: End Clinton-era military base gun ban
  4. PRUDEN: Fatal reluctance to see evil
  5. Airport rules changed after Ron Paul aide detained
More Top Stories »
  1. DeMint tries to ban 'permanent politicians'
  2. Kennedy's disability plan could snag health bill
  3. D.C. sniper executed in Virginia
  4. EXCLUSIVE: Warner: Obama misplayed health care debate
  5. Peace Corps' popularity jumps

Most Commented

  1. PRUDEN: Fatal reluctance to see evil
  2. DeMint tries to ban 'permanent politicians'
  3. Obama: 'No faith justifies' Fort Hood attack
  4. 'Fuzzy math' could drive health bill cost higher
  5. Kennedy's disability plan could snag health bill
More Top Stories »
  1. D.C. sniper executed in Virginia
  2. Defense nominee won't reveal potential conflicts
  3. EXCLUSIVE: GOPer Cao: Health vote may end career
  4. Airport rules changed after Ron Paul aide detained
  5. Michigan farm expert opens Marijuana U.

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

Blogs & Columns

  • POTUS Notes

    New Dem talking point on Obama approval doesn't wash

  • The Back Story

    12 arrested at Pelosi's office

  • Belief Blog

    New Vatican constitution released

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • Technology

    Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Redskins 360

    Veterans visit Redskins

  • Tara's Two Cents

    On their way to summer vacation..

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Videos

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.