# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Symposium: “The Life & Legacy of Charlie Poole” and “Traditions & Innovations in Cotton Mill Music”
- **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 12 Jun, 2025 at 02:00 pm – Thu, 12 Jun, 2025 at 09:00 pm
- **Event Description**: SYMPOSIUM PLANNED TO HONOR CHARLIE POOLE’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY
In 1925, a fearless and talented banjo player left his job as a textile worker at Spray Cotton Mills in Spray, NC to travel to New York, along with his two band mates, to try to secure a recording session with Columbia Records. This band, Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, won over the A&R man at Columbia and, on July 27, recorded four tunes. At that time in recording history, to sell a few thousand records meant you had a hit. One of Poole’s tunes – Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down Blues – sold an astonishing 102,000 copies. This megahit is now enshrined in the Grammy Hall of Fame. 
In recognition of the 100th anniversary of this significant milestone in American music, and in conjunction with the Charlie Poole Festival, a symposium of leading historians and musicologists will be held in the Workforce Development Center on the campus of Rockingham Community College on Thursday, June 12, just before the start of the weekend festival. Curator of the symposium is Eden native, and current Associate Professor of History at Western Carolina University, Dr. Rob Ferguson. Dr. Ferguson will moderate the morning session of the symposium, Traditions and Innovations in Cotton Mill Music. His colleague, Chris Cooper, will moderate the afternoon roundtable discussion on The Life and Legacy of Charlie Poole.
Interspersed during the day will be musical performances by some of the leading figures in traditional music – Laurelyn Dossett, Mark Dillon, Thomm Jutz, and Kinney Rorrer, plus poet Annie Woodford. At the conclusion of the symposium, attendees will be invited to preview the archival display curated by the MARC (Museum and Archives of Rockingham County) featuring items and stories from the local textile mills, plus a few iconic items related to Charlie Poole. 
To finish this special celebratory day, visitors can make reservations for a gourmet chef-prepared dinner with menu items reflecting Charlie Poole’s famous tune “Hungry Hash House.” Visit the festival website at charlie-poole.com for a full menu listing, and to secure reservations for any of the day’s activities. Space is limited, so be sure to secure your reservation as soon as possible. 
The evening concludes with a special indoor concert in the Technology Building auditorium, assembled by Laurelyn Dossett, entitled “Payday at the Mill: Spinning Songs and Stories.”  It will feature a stellar lineup including Laurelyn Dossett, DaShawn & Wendy Hickman, Mark Dillon, Colin Cutler, Chaisaray Schenk, and Tyson Baker. Dossett gives the following insight into this special production:

"This special collaborative concert will use song, poetry and narrative to weave a vibrant tapestry that reflects North Carolina's legacy of mill life.  From the fields to the factories, workers black and white, songs old and new, this concert will be deeply meaningful and uplifting, celebrating the spirit of our mill workers."

Space is limited for Thursday’s activities – reservations may be made by visiting the Charlie Poole Festival website at charlie-poole.com. The cost of the symposium is $65; dinner is $60; concert is $25. Package pricing is available: Full day of activities is $120; concert and dinner only are $75. For more information, you may contact Festival Director, Louise Price, at louiseprice1925@gmail.com or 336-253-9744.
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/wentworth/symposium-the-life-and-legacy-of-charlie-poole-and-traditions-and-innovations-in-cotton-mill-music/200028284608242
- **Event Categories**: music, entertainment, concerts, festivals, food-drinks, art, literary-art, nonprofit, live-music
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 69

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Wentworth
- **state**: NC
- **country**: United States
- **location**: Rockingham Community College
- **lat**: 36.388824932598
- **long**: -79.757269717642
- **full address**: Rockingham Community College, NC Hwy 65,Wentworth, North Carolina, United States

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: Symposium: “The Life & Legacy of Charlie Poole” and “Traditions & Innovations in Cotton Mill Music”
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/e91c3f09b5a33f30af92fb1aea6e544bfdb865d00e68de78c33cb6dd8c0ed090-rimg-w1200-h1549-dcece4ca-gmir?v=1748829402

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is Symposium: “The Life & Legacy of Charlie Poole” and “Traditions & Innovations in Cotton Mill Music” being held?
  - **A:** Symposium: “The Life & Legacy of Charlie Poole” and “Traditions & Innovations in Cotton Mill Music” takes place on Thu, 12 Jun, 2025 at 02:00 pm to Thu, 12 Jun, 2025 at 09:00 pm at Rockingham Community College, NC Hwy 65,Wentworth, North Carolina, United States.
- **Q**: Who is organizing Symposium: “The Life & Legacy of Charlie Poole” and “Traditions & Innovations in Cotton Mill Music”?
  - **A:** Symposium: “The Life & Legacy of Charlie Poole” and “Traditions & Innovations in Cotton Mill Music” is organized by Charlie Poole Festival.
- **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me?
  - **A:** Symposium: “The Life & Legacy of Charlie Poole” and “Traditions & Innovations in Cotton Mill Music” 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 Wentworth, 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.

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