Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, “old friends” of the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music, made an appearance as a part of the “Appalachia in the Bluegrass” concert series.
The series of 12 performances, sponsored by the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music and the UK College of Fine Arts, showcases “the old-time roots of American folk music” by bringing in various Appalachian artists to perform, including Finn Magill and Mash Grass.
The Ruckers began their Sept. 13 performance with “Key to the Highway,” as the duo told the story of the Great Migration through music, as well as through commentary before and after the song. Storytelling was used throughout Rhonda and Sparky’s performance, with many songs touching on different significant historical events, like Tennessee’s secession from the Union during the Civil War.
Their performance of “Which Side Are You On?” by Florence Reece, an activist from Appalachia, was accompanied by an explanation of the context of the song.
“This is another song… It’s a Florence Reece song. Back in 1931 in Harlan County, Kentucky there was a war going on between the coal miners and the coal mining companies,” Rhonda said.
She went on to tell the story of Reece, whose husband had a target on his back for being a “union man” for coal mining. Rhonda described how police set up to watch around Florence’s home to wait for her husband to make an appearance, though he did not.
“It was a tense night, as you could imagine,” Rhonda said.
She continued to explain how amidst the pressure of the situation and everything that led up to it, Florence was empowered to write this popular labor song as she is said to have “tore off a page of a wall calendar” to write her lyrics.
Rhonda pointed out just how powerful and impactful music can be, saying “beware the movement that sings.”
Reece’s song wasn’t the only one with roots in social activism and advocacy. Before the Ruckers’ rendition of “John Henry,” Sparky explained how the song told the story of a mining project for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.
He explained how the workers were put in poor conditions, as they were being exposed to what they called “bad air.” With miners hesitant to work and project deadlines due, Sparky said in order to get the job done they sent 200 chain gang members to the state penitentiary in Richmond, Virginia.
“They couldn’t say I don’t want to work in this bad air,” Sparky said.
Sparky and Rhonda both also made mentions of how songs like “Tear Down the Fences” and “Going Across the Mountain” are still relevant to today’s political and social climate.
Sparky noted that our country was “founded on freedom,” but that “freedom is a constant struggle.” He encouraged audience members to see the importance in the upcoming election, even ending the duo’s set by saying, “Register to vote youngins.”
