News and Notes

Marge Ziemba - 01.12.09

Call it the Stomach Steinway....the Belly Baldwin....the Waistline Wurlitzer...or just a simple squeezebox. For some reason, the past decades have been hard on the accordion. But pundits might want to stop and meet a Floyd County woman with an accordion legacy of sorts. WVTF's Connie Stevens introduces us to this one-woman band. Listen.

Rockabilly - 11.14.08

If you were a teenager in this part of the country in the 1950s, chances are you were listening to rockabilly. It was a time when that up-and-comer Elvis Presley, along with Johnny Cash were taking American music to new places. Roackabilly is the focus of the latest installment in our "Captive Audio" series from WVTF's Connie Stevens. Listen.

Remembering The Phantoms - 7.2.08

For the past few months, we’ve been reporting on the stories behind some of the songs on the Arcania record label. That’s the series of CDs put out by Charlottesville music collector Brent Hosier focusing on bands that recorded around Virginia in the 1960s. WVTF’s Connie Stevens has another Captive Audio installment today, featuring the band “The Phantoms.” Listen.

In addition to the July 18 performance at Marion’s Downtown Days Festival on Main Street, Phantom will perform July 25 at the Tazewell Shriners Horse Show and the August 8 Highlands Festival in Abingdon, as part of the Fright Night Street Dance.

The Phantoms are now known as simply Phantom.

Catching up with a member of Ol' Virginia Soul - 4.1.08

The stories behind the story of the Arcania record label continue. Arcania founder Brent Hosier put out a series of compact discs focusing on soul, psychedelic and garage bands that recorded around Virginia in the 1960s. WVTF's Connie Stevens has the story of Junious Bugs Hughes, featured on the Ol' Virginia Soul collection. Listen.

Junious Bugs Hughes

Discovering The Soulmasters - 3.13.08

Here's another installment in our Captive Audio series, where we've been focusing on some rare musical finds-- tracks recorded back in the 1960s by bands and artists in our listening area. We found them on the Arcania International label created by Charlottesville music collector Brent Hosier. WVTF's Connie Stevens has the story of the band "The Soulmasters" out of Danville. Listen.

Reconnecting with Gene and the Teambeats - 3.5.08

Recently, we featured the CD collections of Charlottesville music collector Brent Hosier. He's put out two series of compilations on his Arcania International label, featuring rare music recorded in Virginia in the 1960s and 70s. One of his collections is called Ol' Virginia Soul...and as promised, we begin our ongoing look at some of the bands from our listening area, featured on that collection. Today, WVTF's Connie Stevens introduces us-- or re-introduces us, rather-- to Gene and the Teambeats out of Martinsville. Listen.

Charlottesville resident preserves music - 2.28.08

When you think of the early days of hip-twisting American music, you might think of Sun Studio or Motown. But whatever the genre; soul, psychedelic, beach or rock and roll, in the 1950s and 60s, music fermented in the dark garages and basements of American....and Virginia was no exception. Most of that music, recorded by bands that never reached adulthood, has long been lost. But one Charlottesville musician has made it his life's work to digitally preserve these raw sounds from decades ago. This report, from WVTF's Connie Stevens, is part of our ongoing series "Captive Audio," featuring those dedicated to sharing their boundless love of music and sound. Listen.

Record label works to preserve music - 2.28.08

Arcania International is dedicated to preserving the classic sound of garage bands of the 1960's. Brent Hosier, founder of the label, tries as much as possible to present unusual material. WVTF's Connie Stevens has this report. Listen.

Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things Ol' Virginia Soul

Music, arts have healing powers - 1.29.08

The healing powers of music and the arts have long been documented. This is the story of one man in our area whose music has been an inspiration in his recovery following a debilitating accident. WVTF's Connie Stevens introduces us to Jon Weems of Hardy, Virginia. Listen.

Music shop serves Roanoke for 75 years - 1.16.08

Today is the beginning of a new series on WVTF. It’s called Captive Audio. In our first of many features planned, focusing on those in our region, sharing their boundless love of music, today a visit to downtown Roanoke’s Melody Haven, Inc., in business, under family ownership for nearly 75 years. WVTF’s Connie Stevens has this report. Listen.

Sue and Charlie Rowe still run the store his parents began, with the help of nieces and nephews, making four generations of Rowes in the store.