Sure, you might be a "Country Roads Take Me Home" West Virginian, but are you a "US Senator Robert Byrd: Mountain Fiddler" West Virginian?
Posted Dec 23, 2021, 4:56 PM UTC
13130
Disclaimer: I am not from West Virginia, I live in far southern Illinois. However, my family is from the Cumberland Gap area, so same cultural heritage for the most part, I grew up listening to this music with family in Kentucky and Ohio (this record belonged to an uncle).
Anyway, pardon the bad joke from here over in Illinois but cheers to old time mountain music! :D
Edit: For those interested, here is the Discogs link for this record.
11
Why, yes, I am. I was fortunate enough to pick it up brand new (still sealed) a few years back. Listen to it every now and again.
Fun fact: It was recorded in his Senate office while he was Majority Leader.
7
That is a fun fact! Really good acoustics in that office, wonder what the setup looked when they recorded.
3
He probably just had the rest of the Klan bring their equipment.
-4†
IIRC his backing band was Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver which is also pretty cool.
5
Didn’t know that!
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It's hard to believe that during the Cancel Culture era that we didn't have all the things named after him renamed.
-1
I have a signed copy on vinyl
4
Nice!
2
I remember seeing him play when I was a kid.
3
My grandma had this record. Can’t say I listened to it, but it’s still interesting.
2
I have this album, got it in Charleston! Great album
2
I've seen this at Tudors in Beckley hanging on a wall.
2
Picked that up at a SC goodwill few years back, still waiting for the record player to show up
2
"Some say he's still waiting to this day..."
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No, I’m not racist.
-7
Listening to music played by a man who denounced his own past racism makes one racist? Ok buddy.
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I’m sure the politician had an epiphany and did it purely for the right reasons.
-1
Whether he was sincere in his renunciations or not is actually kind of irrelevant. He renounced racism and the KKK and did it publicly, during a time when much more racist senate colleagues like Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms were deriding Byrd for saying anything at all.
Credit where it's due, Byrd may have started out life as a racist but he certainly didn't end it that way.
3
You mean renowned KKK GRAND WIZARD Senator Robert c Byrd?
"A lot of white N#@@*&$" Senator Robert c Byrd?
Porkbelly king Robert c Byrd?
Why yes, I am familiar with this phenomenal WV representative....
Oh? You say he can play an instrument too? How about that. That seems important. I should know about that part of him for sure........
-12
I'm sorry, I genuinely didn't want to make this about him as a person. It was my understanding he had tried to apologize about his past racism and kkk membership (I don't think he was a grand wizard, though, was he really?), and as far as "pork belly king" that's probably fair but considering that it was WV benefiting from the pork I'd say he did a better job than either of your current senators could ever dream (if they were even inclined).
Anyway, can't we just treat this like a Richard Wagner situation and just enjoy the music while forgetting just for a moment that the person playing had some disagreeable parts to their character?
17
I want to random stranger. I'm so effing tired. On every front I'm hearing Republicans talking about "rising up" taking"kill shots" and doubling down on stochastic terrorism.
I miss liking basic things
I miss ignoring the bad in favored of their positive contributions
I love how well he benefited the state financially I love that he did take responsibility for his racism
I really want to not be like this... And yet I am here thinking about how my daughter and I just listened to a talk radio host Express his belief that this year republicans aren't gonna "take the 'insanity' anylonger"
I'm just sick of being concerned that we're at the doorstep of full blown Republican fascism and that the anti-intellectualism is now nearly a religion for them.
I get where you're at with it. I do. I appreciate you trying to shine a positive light in a dark work for a moment.
-7†
Dude. You're not wrong, but you have to find a way to not let the state of affairs as you see them drive you into a constant frenzy.
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[deleted]
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- Byrd was a Democrat.
- You don't know what fascism is.
4
I feel you man, I really do. I would like nothing better than for every single trumpanzee to get the Ashli Babbitt treatment. But until then, there's always music as an escape. Hope today is better for ya, and that you have a good Christmas.
2
Merry Christmas. Thank you. I'll be beside you as we deal with them. Hoping only the best ear worms find you today and throughout 2022.
2
Yes, he’s fiddled in my house!
Oh my, in front of everyone?
Senator Byrd played in front of our student body , a packed gymnasium . He was amazing !!