Each week, The Extraordinary Times catches up with friends in the historical and cultural scene. This week, it’s our pleasure to catch up with broadcaster and bluegrass music performer Joe Mullins.
In 1995, Joe formed Town and Country Broadcasting, Inc., purchasing WBZI Radio in Xenia, Ohio, and has since expanded into a network of southwest Ohio stations--Real Roots Radio—including WKFI AM 1090, WEDI AM 1130 and three translators - FM 100.3, Xenia, FM 105.5 Eaton and 106.7 Wilmington. Mullins and staff program a unique mix of locally produced programming including country, bluegrass, gospel and Americana music, news, interviews, and information. Joe is on air weekdays 1-3 pm featuring bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music. He performs nationally and internationally with an award-winning Bluegrass band, Joe Mullins and The Radio Ramblers. In 2016, he was named Broadcaster of the Year, and 2019 Entertainer of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association. From 2017, the Southwestern Ohio Bluegrass Music Heritage Project—a partnership between Miami University Regionals, Cincinnati Public Library, Greene County Public Library, and the Smith Library of Regional History—has preserved and celebrated the story of bluegrass music in greater Cincinnati and the Miami Valley. 2021 welcomes two landmarks of this project: a groundbreaking book, Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy, edited by Curt Ellison and Fred Bartenstein (University of Illinois Press, January 2021). Its companion recording album, Industrial Strength Bluegrass debuts March 25 and is produced by Joe in partnership with Smithsonian Folkways and Miami University Regionals. Featured artists include the Radio Ramblers, Bobby Osborne, Vince Gill, Lee Ann Womack, and Rhonda Vincent. * How has the past year been for you and the Radio Ramblers? Challenging … we have only performed six public appearances since March last year, and the pandemic canceled both of our indoor music festivals (March and November) in Wilmington, Ohio. Four of us in the band contracted the virus last July, at one of our only performances for summer 2020! Thankfully it was mild for the most part and we’re all healthy and fully recovered. With all our extensive travel and touring schedule cancelled, we did get to work this winter on finishing a new Radio Ramblers gospel album, which should be available no later than May this year. * Your new recording project, Industrial Strength Bluegrass, tells the story of Bluegrass music in southwestern Ohio. Why did this story need to be told? So much of the Ohio Bluegrass heritage connects directly to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. The Osborne Brothers, Red Allen, Jimmy Martin, Jim and Jesse, and Larry Sparks all lived in the region during a portion of their career. Flatt and Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers, and Reno and Smiley all recorded in the region. Others were heard on the radio extensively. The Bluegrass music created and promoted in southwestern Ohio earned the genre audiences all over the world. I am very fortunate to have grown up in the Miami Valley and to begin my career in the middle of Bluegrass history. * How were you able to recruit the amazing artists on this album? I am beginning my 39th year as a broadcaster and performer, having started at age sixteen. My career path has allowed me many friendships throughout the roots community. But I didn’t just call in favors with lifelong friends. When I reached out to most artists featured on the recording and told them the purpose behind the project, they were eager to participate! Their passion and enthusiasm for the songs really shines through in each performance, and I’m very grateful for all those who poured immense talent into creating such a powerful body of work. * How did Smithsonian Folkways get involved with this recording? I asked the Smithsonian Folkways team if they had an interest in the album before I began planning production. Their label maintains historically significant recordings as part of their mission. As long as music is listened to by the public in any format, the Industrial Strength Bluegrass album will be available. * How does this story relate to your roots in Middletown, Ohio? That’s where I grew up. One of my first summer jobs as a kid was mowing the acreage around the old WPFB radio station buildings and tower. I was there constantly when I was growing up because my dad, the late Paul “Moon” Mullins, was their most popular on-air personality from 1964 until early 1989. The station and its property were making Bluegrass history as far back as the late 1940s. The station used to broadcast Bluegrass and “Hillbilly” music in the early days and had a live barndance show that first featured the Osborne Brothers as youngsters from Dayton, Ohio. The show had star guests too, including Bill Monroe a time or two! * What are your plans for 2021? Say goodbye to COVID-19, hopefully soon! I am involved in many promotions locally and nationally to launch the Industrial Strength Bluegrass recording. The second half of the year does have a good variety of Radio Ramblers appearances scheduled as well. The biggest event will be getting a daughter-in-law. My son Daniel will be married to a wonderful young lady in late May—and she’s a Bluegrass singer and songwriter from the Smoky Mountains!
1 Comment
Gratia Banta
1/25/2021 05:40:27 pm
What a sweet survival story about a creative artist/musician in these times of cancelled tours. Ending with a future joyful marriage for Daniel is the icing on the cake.
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AuthorMatthew Smith, PhD (History). Public Programs at Miami University Regionals. Historian of Appalachia, the Ohio Valley, & the early American republic. Archives
February 2024
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