John Fowler, Appalachian storyteller, musician and ballad singer is from the
foothills/piedmont region
of up country South Carolina. His Grandma Maude Gregory Taylor was born in
1898 of Scott-Irish descents who
settled in Western North Carolina in the late 1700’s. She was from Cherokee County,
North Carolina. His Grandma Betsy Holland Fowler was born in the mountains of
East Tennessee. Both women where great influences on his life.
John's work is featured on South Carolina Public TV where he has co-produced a
number of
documentaries for SC-ETV. He is a member of the
SC Institute for
Community Scholars
in which he is currently serving as the
project scholar for the Humanities Council of South Carolina. John is one of 17
national storytellers captured in the book Southern Appalachian Storytellers
(McFarland Press). He co-host a weekly old-time radio show on North Carolina public
radio station
WNCW-FM.
His storytelling is a
wonderful anthology of Appalachian stories along with songs collected from
generations of Carolina old-timers, storytellers and ballad singers. His
presentations are great for all ages; from grade school, adult and family, to
senior programs.
John is a master harmonica player. He placed first at
Fiddler's Grove
in 1999 and 2002.
He also received blue ribbons in the banjo competition at the prestigious
Mountain Dance Folk
Festival in Asheville NC (1999) and the
Pickins Heritage Day
Old-Time Music Festival (2005). As a folklorist and ardent collector
he has published several works based on other musicians and storytellers.
His southern charm and theatrical presentation takes his audiences by surprise.
His performances are hilarious, creative, energetic, and historically
informative. He is simply a treasure to see.
"My work is a celebration of my heritage and family ties to the region in which
I make my home."
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