Ten years ago, Dr. Ted Olson began pursuing restoration of the 1925 Asheville recording sessions. Now, his vision has become a reality with the completion of the century-old records.
Olson, professor in the Department of Appalachian Studies, has worked on music research and restoration for much of his career, earning nine Grammy nominations for his work. His experience involves restoration of music originating in Bristol, Knoxville and Johnson City in the 1920s.
Despite his success so far, Olson said the story wouldn’t be complete without restoring the first recording session in Appalachia: the Asheville Sessions. Working with Rivermont Records, Olson sought to preserve this historic music, restoring the history and culture embedded within it.
The recordings proved a unique challenge for Olson, primarily because they were recorded acoustically through a horn microphone, making restoration and access technologically difficult. Additionally, the records themselves are scattered, leading to overseas travel to obtain them. This is part of the reason Olson worked with Rivermont. The head of the label, Bryan Wright, specializes in the remastering of acoustic music. His expertise proved valuable, making the music sound “new again.”
Following the initial meeting with the City of Asheville to discuss the project, Hurricane Helene struck the region. A year later, as these recordings are released, they take on new weight in light of the tragedy.
“People in Appalachia are looking for positive stories to collectively experience,” Olson said.
This collective experience is crucial to the project and to music restoration in general. When Olson started at ETSU, he made a commitment to researching and telling the deep stories of regional music, seeking to make Appalachian culture part of everyday conversations. He’s sought to emphasize public access to Appalachian music, stories and histories.
For the people recovering from Hurricane Helene, Olson hopes the music will provide a sense of recognition that the stories of Appalachia are profoundly significant and deserve to be recognized. Musical restorations are more than just music; they’re “studies of culture.” Asheville’s history and engagement with the wider country are fixed in these recordings, allowing residents and nonresidents to engage with the culture and stories of Appalachia.
Emphasizing accessibility, the recording, titled “Music from the Land of the Sky: The 1925 Asheville Sessions,” will be available in CD, vinyl and digital formats. This allows for hard copies of the recordings while promoting widespread access to them. Olson hopes for a national response, showcasing the stories within the music.
An official release event is scheduled Nov. 6-9, organized by Explore Asheville, Blue Ridge Music Center and the North Carolina Arts Foundation. More information can be found at exploreasheville.com/historic-asheville-sessions. Information on the recordings themselves can be found by contacting Olson at olson@etsu.edu.
