Note: The material and ideas presented below are in constant change. As the project unfolds and develops. Your input as a reader/stakeholder is vital to make sure we are not overlooking or missing an important element of Shenandoah Valley Mountain Music Makers Association 's mission and that our project development is inclusive so that everyone's voice is considered.
Don DePoy, Executive Director SVMMMA - November 23, 2009

Shenandoah Valley Mountain Music Makers Trail & Heritage Center
Sing your way back home…
Honoring the past ~ Celebrating the present ~ Preserving the future

The Mountain Music Makers Trail & Heritage Center bring together 14 Counties, 12 Cities, 100+ towns/municipalities, musicians, venues, promoters, audiences, educational institutions, historical societies, museums, folklife institutes, arts organizations, national, state and local arts and humanities councils, tourists, chambers of commerce and businesses of the Shenandoah Valley to better promote the Valley's traditional music heritages, including sacred and secular musics.

The historical musical roots of the Valley run deep and can be traced back to the early pioneers and settlers and the migration down the Great Wagon Road. The popularity of certain tunes played today can be traced back to original Valley versions. Singers Glen, Virginia, a small community 8 miles north-west of Harrisonburg is world famous as the birthplace of sacred music in the south. Joseph Funk and Sons publishing company in Singers Glen was responsible for the proliferation of scared songs the world over. Also, the mountain or lap dulcimer first came to popularity in the Shenandoah River Valley but was soon exported to the southwest regions of Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. The Shenandoah Valley's mountain music playing and singing styles have had tremendous influences on American music forms.

The project goals:

  1. Identify historical performers and locations throughout the Valley. (i.e. Zeke Johnson, Patsy Cline, Statler Brothers, Bill Harrell, Mac Wiseman, Buddy Starcher, Eddie Adcock, Buddy Charlton, Don Reno, Dewey & Kitty Jenkins, etc.)
  2. Identify and promote local live music venues of traditional music (i.e. Jams in Grottoes, Staunton, Winchester, Lexington, Port Republic, Luray, New Market, Timberville, Harrisonburg, Elkton, Shenandoah, Lexington, Roanoke…Charlottesville, Bradywine)
  3. Identify and celebrate the areas “master musicians” past & present: Salt 'n Peanuts, Emory Stroop, "Speedy" Toliver, Spike & Vallie May Stroop, Ray Houser, Lamb Brothers, "Buck" Ryan, Dan Pickett, Glen Nicely, Two-Gun Terry, Ed Michaels, Buttermilk Snyder, etc…
  4. Identify and promote the wealth of musicians and bands playing traditional music.
  5. Create and promote a comprehensive web presence.
  6. Create and distribute a “Shenandoah Valley Music Maker's Trail” map and other printed support materials (flyers, brochures, booklets).
  7. Identify and promote folk, old-time and bluegrass festivals in the region.
  8. Set up partners across the area for cross promotion and Experiential EduVentures for visitors.
  9. Develop “Vacation packages” for visitors and travel agencies and bus tours.
  10. Create a number of MMM Heritage Centers to serve a showcase for the region's music makers, venues and audiences.
  11. Develop on-going private and public fund raising.
  12. Produce The Shenandoah Valley Jamboree, a musical variety show/program that showcases local mountain music makers and their music with guest appearances of out-of-area musicians traveling through the Valley.


Shenandoah Valley Music Makers Heritage Center
Since returning to the area in the summer of 2007, we have been asked if we knew what to do with so&sos “stuff”. This stuff includes old instruments, a zillion pictures of local musicians playing all the way back to the mid-1800s, show costumes, rare family recordings that are in need of restoration, old radio show tapes, and thousands of hours of field recording of some of the Valley's best music makers. There are numerous world renowned musical instrument makers in the Valley. Given the lack of knowledge by the general public of the Shenandoah Valleys contribution to America's musical expressions a “MMM Center” and an educational outreach component, will serve as a way to inform and celebrate our unique musical heritage. The “Center” would not need to take up a lot of space to meet its goals of providing a place to view some physical artifacts (the material culture) of the Valley's mountain music history, provide a contact point for visitors. The center would partner with the tour agents and bus companies to become part of the Valley loop tour stops. The MMM gift shop would offer a variety of books, recordings, CD, DVD, topical art, photographs, crafts, sculptures, posters, trinkets, etc. to provide additional revenues for the Center.

For more information, to provide input into the Trail or Center or to discuss some items you may own or know about that would add to our Heritage Centers collection (on-loan or gift) or to make a tax-deductable donations please email Don DePoy, Executive Director SVMMMA or call 540-209-3540.

Shenandoah Valley Mountain Music Makers Trail & Heritage Center
266 Inglewood Court
McGaheysville, Virginia 22840