THE FACE OF APPALACHIA channel is a place to honor the people, vibrant culture, and strong traditions of Appalachia. Come along as we take this journey of discovery.
I have spent my life roaming the mountains of southern Appalachia where I grew up, meeting folks where they live and work, and documenting their lives and activities through photographs and stories shared. For more than 40 years these lovely people have invited me onto their farms and into their homes and I am forever humbled by their generosity, kindness, and trust. I have tried to present these proud, independent, hard-working individuals in a straightforward, dignified manner, to honor them and preserve some elements of our culture. I have been fortunate to have many of the images and oral history interviews published in book form as, The Face of Appalachia, On Earth's Furrowed Brow, and Hands in Harmony.
In 2023 my friend and coproducer, Scott Allen, and I started this channel on YouTube. Here we will create episodes that incorporate historic photos and oral history interviews from my three Appalachian-themed books with current interviews with family and friends of those I documented. We will not only profile people from the past but meet new people not included in the books, and share our experiences meeting and getting to know these fascinating people. We hope you will enjoy the stories, images, and traditional music we weave together and will learn more about these amazing folk. The channel serves as a celebration of the people, culture, and rich heritage of Appalachia.