As part of the programming related to our special exhibit Hometown Stars: Southwest Virginia’s Recording Legacy, 1923–1943, join us in the museum’s Performance Theater on Saturday, May 20 at 1pm for a book-signing event with journalist Ralph Berrier Jr. Berrier is the author of If Trouble Don’t Kill Me: A Family’s Story of Brotherhood, War, and Bluegrass, a biography of musicians Clayton and Saford Hall. Born only minutes apart in The Hollow in Patrick County, Virginia, the Hall twins rose from mountain-bred poverty to playing and singing on the radio airwaves and at performances throughout the region, including opening shows for The Carter Family, Roy Rogers, and the Sons of the Pioneers, and as band members of Roy Hall and His Blue Ridge Entertainers. In his book, Berrier, grandson to Clayton, tells the twins’ story from their hardscrabble childhood and youth to their musical triumphs to the arena of World War II.
Participants at the event will get a wonderful introduction to Clayton and Saford’s story. Berrier will read a few passages from his book, perhaps even playing a couple of Hall Twins’ tunes! After a brief Q&A, audience members will get the chance to buy a copy of If Trouble Don’t Kill Me and get it signed by the author. This event is free and open to the public.
Read Huffington Post book review of If Trouble Don’t Kill Me