"I've Endured": The Music & Legacy of Ola Belle Reed Documentary & Panel Discussion

With a voice born in the mountains and forged by hard times, Ola Belle Reed became an influential musician, singer, and songwriter of traditional mountain music. “I’ve Endured”: The music and legacy of Ola Belle Reed” chronicles the remarkable life of this artist whose contributions have left an indelible mark on our cultural fabric. Ola Belle’s powerful voice and authentic lyrics resonated with her rural roots, and her passionate songs found a home within the folk-revival movement of the 1960s and beyond. Her songs have become anthems of Appalachian life, and she is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential bluegrass, folk, and old-time musicians of all time.

The narrative presented in “I’ve Endured” explores themes of resilience, creativity, diversity, and cultural significance. The film, a product of four years of production, combines archival photographs, recordings, and newly restored film footage to create a comprehensive portrait of Ola Belle.

Following the film screening will be a discussion with panelists from the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, and Shepherd University.

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