Artist description Gauley Mountain is West Virginia's epic poem, a history in verse of the lands west of the Allegheny Mountains, from the first settlement in the 1740s through the hard times of the 1930s. Originally published in 1939, this virtually unknown classic all but disappeared until it was first reprinted in 1989. In 1991 Larry Groce, host of West Virginia Public Radio's Mountain Stage, produced this audio version of Gauley Mountain for radio broadcast within the state on West Virginia Day, June 20 of that year. The Pocahontas Communications Cooperative republished Gauley Mountain in 1996 in a commemorative edition with four essays on McNeill and her work. Louise Mc Neill was a daughter of the hills of Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Her poetry, especially Gauley Mountain, gives the truest expression of the spirit of our mountains and their people ever put down on paper. Louise is no longer with us in person, but we still feel a need to hear her words, heed her spirits. Thus our decision to reprint Gauley Mountain and to produce this CD, so that another generation of people can better understand the place and culture of West Virginia in our world. West Virginia Poet Laureate Louise McNeill was raised on a hill farm in Pocahontas County, West Virginia in 1911. Despite substantial literary and scholarly achievements, she always listed "farm background" at the top of her resume. Her writing evokes universal feelings, but subtleties and language of rural West Virginia predominate. She died in June of 1993, leaving behind a legacy of prose, scholarly works, and poetry.

Music Style Poetry set to bluegrass/mountain music

Musical Influences The Hammons Family and other traditional mountain artists.

Similar Artists Larry Groce of Mountain Stage

Artist History In 1991 Larry Groce, host of West Virginia Public Radio's Mountain Stage, produced this audio version of Gauley Mountain for radio broadcast within the state on West Virginia Day, June 20 of that year. The Pocahontas Communications Cooperative republished Gauley Mountain in 1996 in a commemorative edition with four essays on McNeill and her work. Louise Mc Neill was a daughter of the hills of Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Her poetry, especially Gauley Mountain, gives the truest expression of the spirit of our mountains and their people ever put down on paper. Louise is no longer with us in person, but we still feel a need to hear her words, heed her spirits. Thus our decision to reprint Gauley Mountain and to produce this CD, so that another generation of people can better understand the place and culture of West Virginia in our world. West Virginia Poet Laureate Louise McNeill was raised on a hill farm in Pocahontas County, West Virginia in 1911. Despite substantial literary and scholarly achievements, she always listed "farm background" at the top of her resume. Her writing evokes universal feelings, but subtleties and language of rural West Virginia predominate. She died in June of 1993, leaving behind a legacy of prose, scholarly works, and poetry.

Group Members Louise McNeill, Larry Groce, John Blisard, Andy Ridenour, Bob Thompson, Ginny Hawker, Rebecca Kimmons, Dwight Diller, and Pinkney Benedict

Instruments Banjo, guitar, fiddle, and piano

Albums Gauley Mountain

Press Reviews Miss McNeill's rhythmns and meters are simple, direct and forceful. She sings as naturally as her people speak, and there is both salt and melody in the tune.-Stephen Vincent Benet

Location Dunmore, WV - USA

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