Meet Brody Hunt
Music historian, butterfly rancher, event producer, blue yodeler, and old-time finger style banjo player
Listen to Brody Hunt’s “Land of the Sky” radio show
Sundays 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Sundays 7:00 – 9:00 pm
WPVM’s very own music historian Brody Hunt offers you some of the world’s most sought after recordings from the early days of music on his show “Land of the Sky,” which airs every Sunday at 7 pm on WPVM fm 103.7.
Brody opens his “Land of the Sky” show with an original tune by the father of country music, Jimmie Rodgers. Brody continues with early examples of Louis Armstrong, June Carter, Billie Holiday, and seldom heard Hawaiian recordings of the 1920-1930s, plus much more.
Brody hopped a freight train to Asheville from the Pacific Northwest, where he grew up in a musical family that dates back seven generations. With a history like that, is it any wonder that Brody obsessively collects early recordings from his homeland and other regions from the great American west?
Brody says, “Every collector finds a niche. I seek out pre-World War II country blues, tunes of out-west, hobo songs, and musicians associated with Asheville. I love going down that musical rabbit hole and finding all those note-filled gems few remember. I especially love sharing my rare finds with our “Land of the Sky” listeners every Sunday night.
Brody, we’re glad you caught that freight train to Asheville. We’re thrilled to have your warm, folksy presence, talent, and knowledge as part of our WPVM fm family of listeners, on-air talent, and volunteers. Thank you for all you do for the Asheville community.
By the way, Brody founded the annual Asheville Shellac Bash attracting collectors from across the globe. Click HERE and listen to the 2018 Asheville Shellac Bash’s terrific after-party featuring world-class musical talent: 1) Mr. Lawrence Cohn, legendary producer, and eight-time Grammy nominee. 2) Tony Russell (London, UK) – Author of Country Music Records: A Discography 1921-1942. 3) Kinney Rorrer (VA) – Author of Rambling Blues: The Life & Songs of Charlie Poole. 4) Russell Shor – Author, Journalist, & Co-Owner/Associate Editor of Vintage Jazz Mart
5) Marshall Wyatt (NC) – Founder & Owner of Old Hat Records
6) Paul Swinton (UK) – Owner Frog Records.
Listen to archived shows here
Here’s the link to Land of the Sky after Shellac Bash show of 4.15.18 broadcast on Land Of The Sky. Including, among many others, our Mystery Guest, eight time Grammy nominee and legendary producer, Mr. Lawrence Cohn. Other notable guests are;
Tony Russell (London, UK) – Author of Country Music Records: A Discography 1921-1942 / Kinney Rorrer (VA) – Author of Rambling Blues: The Life & Songs of Charlie Poole / Russell Shor (CA) – Author, Journalist, & Co-Owner/Associate Editor of Vintage Jazz Mart / Marshall Wyatt (NC) – Founder & Owner of Old Hat Records / Paul Swinton (UK) – Owner Frog Records
Pack Square, and the Flat Iron Building with WWNC’s radio towers visible on the roof. WPVM’s home in the Public Service Building (built in 1924), is seen just to the left of the Flat Iron. This shot is about mid-1930’s I think.
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“Land of the Sky, Brody Hunt’s new weekly broadcast on Asheville’s WPVM radio, is a breath of fresh air. Brody brings a musician’s ear and a collector’s passion to every show, spinning a stack of 78 rpm records from the early years of the 20th century. You’ll hear two hours of hillbilly yodels, barrelhouse blues, cowboy songs, fiddle tunes, jug blowers, jazz bands, gospel choirs, hobo poets, ballroom crooners, and ethnic sounds from other lands. And that’s just a sampling.
Nothing here is canned. It’s all fresh and alive, straight off the shellac and into the ether. The disc you’re hearing may have been a forgotten relic in the back of somebody’s closet, or gathering dust in the bargain bin of a local junk store, but not anymore. Thanks, Brody, for rescuing these national treasures, and putting them back on the airwaves.”
– Marshall Wyatt (Old Hat Records)
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Hey folks, below I’ll be adding images from Asheville’s musical past, links to standout shows on occasion, and other ephemera and events relating to the pre war 78 RPM era. Enjoy and check back and visit us. Thanks for tuning in. It’s truly an honor to be able to share this old music that is so deserving of a modern audience. And just plain good times!
– Brody Hunt
You can also keep up with us if you “like” Land of the Sky on Facebook here:
Here’s a solid show I think, broadcast January 21st, 2018
The Asheville Shellac Bash is a unique gathering of 78 RPM record collectors and researchers. On the evening’s of April 13th & 14th, we will be featuring listening sessions of rare and seldom heard, original 78 RPM records, from the USA and abroad, along with expert discussion, live music, and historic film. The event’s primary goal is to provide an opportunity for fellowship among those who have helped to preserve and share this vast arena of the world’s greatest vernacular recordings of the Pre-WW2 era.
All are welcome.
Notable attendees include the following, along with many more.
Tony Russell (London, UK) – Author of Country Music Records: A Discography 1921-1942
Kinney Rorrer (VA) – Author of Rambling Blues: The Life & Songs of Charlie Poole
Russell Shor (CA) – Author, Journalist, & Co-Owner/Associate Editor of Vintage Jazz Mart
Marshall Wyatt (NC) – Founder & Owner of Old Hat Records
Paul Swinton (UK) – Owner Frog Records
Interspersed between listening to 78’s, film, and general clap trap about old recordings and musicians, will be short sets of live music.
Come join us for a night of exceptional music with extraordinary people.
And for kicks here’s our inaugural poster from 2017, also by Lee Buckner.
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1925 Okeh Recording Sessions In The Vanderbilt Hotel
From August 25th to September 2nd, 1925, legendary A & R man Ralph Peer and recording engineer Charles H. Hibbard led recording sessions for the Okeh label on the roof of the lavish and newly completed Vanderbilt Hotel. These were the first commercial recordings made in North Carolina, the only commercial recordings made in Asheville prior to WW2, and among the earliest recording ventures into the south made by a recording company. Still utilizing the mechanical acoustic recording process that would be gradually usurped by new electrical recording methods between 1925-27, most of the recordings are seldom heard today.
Known details of the sessions have appeared elsewhere, thanks to the research of Charles K. Wolfe and Tony Russell. Below, I’ll offer some of their work, some wonderful photos of the inside of the Vanderbilt Hotel upon it’s completion in ’24, and of course some label shots from my collection of the records made at the session.
Asheville’s only pre WW2 Jazz record, luckily it’s great. The final sides recorded in the Vanderbilt Hotel, Sept 2nd, 1925. All personnel unknown other than William Truesdale, Director. Foor-Robinson was the name of the company that operated the Vanderbilt, along with several other hotels.
Session list discography by Tony Russell. There is a theory that Charlie Poole might have come and recorded two sides at the sessions. See blank matrices above. If so, the recordings were not released and have never been found.
Lobby of the Vanderbilt Hotel circa 1924, much as it would have looked during the Asheville Sessions. I can’t help but imagine Ralph Peer, Ernest Stoneman, Emmett Miller, J.D. Harris and the others having exciting times here.
Grand Ballroom of the Vanderbilt Hotel circa ’24. Grand ballroom was located above the lobby, on the 2nd story.
Rooftop dances were very popular in Asheville, and in general in the 1920’s. Under the moon and stars.
West Ballroom of the Vanderbilt Hotel (date unknown).
Dining Room of the Vandebilt Hotel, circa ’24.
December 1925 Okeh Old Time Tunes catalog, featuring many sides from Asheville. Photos probably taken on the roof of the Vanderbilt, a few steps away from the recording laboratory.
Legendary fiddler J.D. Harris of Flag Pond, TN.
Though still standing, sadly the grand old Vanderbilt Hotel, once the pride of Asheville, was “picked to the bone” in 1968.
Various methods of passing the time in Asheville.
Butterfly Girls circa 1924.
X-Ray Eyes “Special Matinee For Ladies Only” July 1924
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WWNC: Asheville’s Pioneering Radio Station
WWNC circa 1927 Wonderful Western North Carolina. I’m not an expert on the early history of station WWNC, and I have much more research to do on the subject, but bellow is some of what I do know. We are certainly fortunate the two photographs from the early days were captured. Thanks to my pals Marshall Wyatt (Old Hat Records) & Hunter Holmes for contributions to this research.
Inside the Vanderbilt Hotel, in Downtown Asheville, WWNC first signed on the air on the 21st of February 1927. The station would soon move to the nearby Flat Iron Building. I believe it would be the only radio station broadcasting from this area of North Carolina for some time. Jimmie Rodgers famously made his radio debut on the station, for a few weeks in May & June of 1927. Throughout the 1930’s, a parade of Country Music Pioneers, from near and far, would appear on the station. Including the first broadcasts of Bill Monroe in 1939. A few other artists to appear live on the air include J.E. Mainer’s Mountaineers, Walter Hurt & His Singing Cowboys, and Bill & Cliff Carlisle.
WWNC circa 1927
WWNC towers on the Flat Iron Building
WWNC Ekko Stamp. Note “lightning” emitting from towers! Ekko Stamps were popular in the late 20’s & early 30’s.
WBT’s Crazy Barn Dance was rebroadcast on WWNC Saturday evenings. Shown above are Fisher Hendley, Wade Mainer, J.E. Mainer, Daddy John Love, & Zeke Morris
Sept. 1934 add for WWNC in the Asheville Citizen.
The Callahan Brothers (Homer & Bill) were one of the most prolific recording artists from the AVL area. They luckily left us with a vast repertoire of varied material, both solo and together. I try and play them quite a bit on LOTS. Here they are, along with a few label shots.
And here we have an amazing photo of Homer & Bill’s dad, Bert Callahan & Co. selling apples in Downtown Asheville, circa 1902. He was a postman of Wolf Laurel, NC, taught voice and piano, and was a farmer.
“You’ll know Pap Callahan by his team, the humpback mule don’t look like much,
but he can read that ox’s mind…and the possum, you’ll also know him by
his possum.”
The great Jimmie Rodgers called Asheville home from Dec. 1926-July 1927, just prior to making his first recordings at Bristol TN./VA., becoming one of the planet’s biggest stars, & changing Hillbilly & Popular music forever. He made a single triumphant return to Asheville, in Dec. of 1929. Where he appeared for two nights at the City Auditorium. The original City Auditorium is pictured below, alongside of the Vanderbuilt Hotel, where the first commercial recordings made in North Carolina, were waxed by the Okeh label in the summer of 1925. America’s Blue Yodeler also made his first radio appearances on Asheville’s WWNC sation, in May & June of 1927.
