Week 5
Vocal Week
Baptists to Ballads - Appalachian Singing
Gail Hatton

“I was raised in Kentucky, with much of my time spent in the steep Appalachian mountains of southeastern Kentucky, in the coalfield region. My musical influence was rich--grandparents on both sides were incredible singers, mostly in church, however my maternal grandmother did sing ballads.  I come from a Baptist heritage: there was Southern Baptist on one side of the family, and on the other side my paternal grandfather was a songleader in the Old Regular Baptist church we attended. I learned "lining out" by listening to him. As I grew up I continued to listen to the old singers from the region singing the ballads and songs.  I learned to sing them as well and added to my repertoire of songs I had learned as a youngster.” --GH