The name Ola Belle Reed may not be terribly familiar to younger fans of bluegrass and old time music – unless they are inclined to peruse liner notes and songwriter credits on their favorite recordings. Many of her songs have been covered by popular modern artists – Del McCoury (I’ve Endured, High On A Mountain), Tim O’Brien (I’ve Endured), Crooked Still (Undone In Sorrow) – and her influence as a purveyor of an authentic Appalachian folk tradition outlasts her time among us.
Now, 8 years after her death, Smithsonian Folkways has put together a CD to capture the spirit of her performances throughout her life. Included on Rising Sun Melodies will be 11 remastered tracks from her previous Folkways releases, plus 8 new tracks recorded live at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 1972 and ’76.
The track listing shows a number of her own songs, and a batch of old time favorites.
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Rising Sun Melodies is due on August 3 from Smithsonian Folkways.
