"Pickin on the Other Porches: The Soulful Music of Appalachia" with Aristotle Jones
​In this 45-60 minute workshop, Join Appalachian Soul Man, and Black Appalachian Storyteller Fellow, for an engaging exhibition on how the solitary act of simply strumming guitar on a lazy afternoon, can easily turn into a raucous and rowdy yard community party. Attendees will be treated to stories of diversity, work ethic, and family values present in the coal camp of OSAGE, WV during the coal boom of the 20th Century and will be prompted to join in on the music making in prominent genre techniques, such as Call and Response, and Vocal Ad libs, and Choral harmonies to create an inclusive, engaging experience that is not only fun, but practical to create community through creative expression.
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BIO- Known as the Appalachian Soul Man, Aristotle Jones performs a blend of soulful folk music for audiences throughout Appalachia. He blends the R&B, Blues, DooWop, Gospel, and Folk traditions of rural black porch pickin’ music found in West Virginia that he learned from his grandfather and other mentors. Aristotle is also a Radio Personality and Creative Director for WVRC Media, as well as the founder of the Osage Gospel N’ Soul Community Choir. His most recent album Mountain Doo-Wop & the Streets of Osage was released in 2023 and is a tribute to his family, his state, and his rural blackness in America. https://www.aristotlejones.com