# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Henry Whitter and the Birth of Country Music with Josh Beckworth
- **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 20 Mar, 2026 at 06:00 pm
- **Event Description**: On Friday, March 20th at 6 p.m., the Museum of Ashe County History will host local historian and author Josh Beckworth, who will be giving a talk about the life of country musician and Ashe County resident Henry Whitter.

Whitter was a pioneering figure in early American country (or “old-time”) music. Born in Grayson County, Virginia, he learned guitar and harmonica at a young age and worked in a cotton mill before venturing into recording.  In 1923 he traveled to New York to record for Okeh Records, laying down tracks such as “Wreck on the Southern Old ’97” and “Lonesome Road Blues.” These recordings marked some of the first commercial country-style records by a rural performer, helping to open the door for the genre.

Later, Whitter teamed up with the blind fiddler G.B. Grayson, and together as the duo “Grayson & Whitter,” they recorded numerous songs between 1927 and 1930 that would become standards in bluegrass and old-time repertoires, including “Tom Dooley,” “Nine Pound Hammer,” and “Little Maggie.” Whitter would later become a longtime resident of Ashe County.

Josh Beckworth is the author of "Always Been A Rambler: G.B. Grayson and Henry Whitter, County Music Pioneers of Southern Appalachia," which details the lives of Whitter and Grayson and the impact they had on country music.

Beckworth has also received the W. Amos Abrams prize from the North Carolina Folklore Society and is published in the North Carolina Folklore Journal.  He has also been featured in the documentary "Short Life of Trouble: The Legend of G.B. Grayson." 

If you're a fan of country and old-time music, then you won't want to miss this program! This event will take place at the Museum of Ashe County History, located at 301 E. Main Street in Jefferson, NC, and is FREE and open to the public. For more information, call (336) 846 1904.
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/jefferson/henry-whitter-and-the-birth-of-country-music-with-josh-beckworth/200029209094302
- **Event Categories**: country-music-festivals, music, entertainment, art, literary-art, performances
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 68

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Jefferson
- **state**: NC
- **country**: United States
- **location**: 301 E Main St, Jefferson, NC, United States, North Carolina 28640
- **lat**: 36.42125
- **long**: -81.47059
- **full address**: 301 E Main St, Jefferson, NC, United States, North Carolina 28640

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: Henry Whitter and the Birth of Country Music with Josh Beckworth
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/972511999d7f6fff75430df4947d2df1b1a61f25bc5dfc0d1ced431f1dbdb496-rimg-w1200-h800-dc8f755d-gmir?v=1773215249

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is Henry Whitter and the Birth of Country Music with Josh Beckworth being held?
  - **A:** Henry Whitter and the Birth of Country Music with Josh Beckworth takes place on Fri, 20 Mar, 2026 at 06:00 pm to Fri, 20 Mar, 2026 at 06:00 pm at 301 E Main St, Jefferson, NC, United States, North Carolina 28640.
- **Q**: Who is organizing Henry Whitter and the Birth of Country Music with Josh Beckworth?
  - **A:** Henry Whitter and the Birth of Country Music with Josh Beckworth is organized by Museum of Ashe County History.
- **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me?
  - **A:** Henry Whitter and the Birth of Country Music with Josh Beckworth is ideal for music lovers, fans of all genres, and anyone who wants to celebrate the power of music - from intimate gigs and live sessions to festivals and cultural performances. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Jefferson, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. With 60+ people already showing interest, this is clearly an event worth adding to your calendar - don't miss out.

## Structured Data (JSON-LD)

```json
[
    {
        "@context": "https://schema.org",
        "@type": "Event",
        "name": "Henry Whitter and the Birth of Country Music with Josh Beckworth",
        "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/972511999d7f6fff75430df4947d2df1b1a61f25bc5dfc0d1ced431f1dbdb496-rimg-w1200-h800-dc8f755d-gmir?v=1773215249",
        "startDate": "2026-03-20",
        "url": "https://allevents.in/jefferson/henry-whitter-and-the-birth-of-country-music-with-josh-beckworth/200029209094302",
        "location": {
            "@type": "Place",
            "name": "301 E Main St, Jefferson, NC, United States, North Carolina 28640",
            "address": {
                "@type": "PostalAddress",
                "streetAddress": "301 E Main St, Jefferson, NC 28640-8978, United States",
                "addressLocality": "Jefferson",
                "addressRegion": "NC",
                "addressCountry": "US"
            },
            "geo": {
                "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
                "latitude": "36.42125",
                "longitude": "-81.47059"
            }
        },
        "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode",
        "description": "On Friday, March 20th at 6 p.m., the Museum of Ashe County History will host local historian and author Josh Beckworth, who will be giving a talk about the life of country musician and Ashe County resident Henry Whitter.\n\nWhitter was a pioneering figure in early American country (or “old-time”) musi",
        "organizer": [
            {
                "@type": "Organization",
                "name": "Museum of Ashe County History",
                "url": "https://allevents.in/org/museum-of-ashe-county-history/25496363"
            }
        ]
    }
]
```