Historic Asheville Sessions Project
James Dedrick Harris (far left), a renowned fiddler of Western North Carolina, participated in the OKeh Records sessions held at the Vanderbilt Hotel in 1925.
A two-week recording session held on the top floor of the Vanderbilt Hotel in 1925 drew musicians from across the region and captured the very first performances of traditional music recorded in the Southern Appalachians for distribution to a broader American audience. If there had never been a recording session in Asheville in 1925, the trajectory of popular music in the 20th century may have traced a different arc.
Through the power of music, a little-known but far-reaching event that occurred in Asheville a century ago can help western North Carolina heal from the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene.
The Historic Asheville Sessions project will shine the spotlight on this event and the rich musical culture that attracted the record company to the region. A city-wide public celebration in Asheville on November 6-8, 2025 is planned, and a re-mastering and re-issue of the original acoustic recordings is in motion.
Asheville community members met in August 2024 with the North Carolina Arts Foundation, the Blue Ridge Music Center, and music historian Ted Olson to plan ways that the community can benefit from the 100th anniversary commemoration.
Now the impact of Hurricane Helene threatens to derail this project. In the midst of so much destruction, local organizations and individuals must use their resources to restore basic services and infrastructure to residents of the region.
Please consider giving a donation now to bring this project to completion. Just click on the button below and make a contribution with a credit card, PayPal, Venmo, or a personal check. Write “Asheville Sessions” in the description, memo, or “What’s this for?” section of the payment system you choose.