Summary: Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Arkansas. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors, and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, 2018 ACMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Ameripolitan Outlaw Female of the Year, songwriter and up and coming Outlaw Country star, Arkansas’ own Bonnie Montgomery recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this uniquely talented Arkansas singer-songwriter. “Upon first listening to Bonnie Montgomery, it’s easy to mistakenly assume that you’ve stumbled upon a long-buried track by a legend from the golden era of country/western music. Such is the artistry of this Arkansas native and silver-voiced songstress. Her story is of her journey but she presents it through a folk/bluegrass/country perspective that’s traditional and timeless. Montgomery’s stunning vocal chops and ability to draw listeners in with her natural songwriting talent should come as no surprise. Her musical roots run deep. Brought up among the never-ending sound of music that flowed through her family’s Arkansas music store, her childhood was heavily steeped in Ozark bluegrass, Texas swing, Delta blues, as well as gospel and rock and roll. Surrounded by talented musicians that ran the gamut from performers on the original Sun Records to bluegrass greats and opera singers, Montgomery expanded her musical horizons and began performing.” - https://www.bonniemontgomerymusic.com/about In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1983 archival recording of legendary fiddler Billy Matthews performing the traditional tune “Arkansas Traveller.” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. Author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage presents an historical portrait of the people, events and indomitable spirit of Ozark culture that resulted in the creation of the Ozark Folk Center State Park and its enduring legacy of music and craft. In this episode, Charley discusses with Jeanette Larson, Craft Director at the Ozark Folk Center State Park the question “What’s Worth Keeping” from our past in the rapidly evolving culture of our present.
