The Johnson City Sessions are an important part of our musical heritage in East Tennessee and played an important role in the early development of what we now consider Country Music. Frank Buckley Walker, who led the “Hillbilly” recordings division of Columbia Records, set up shop in Johnson City between 1928 and 1929, auditioning and recording a wide variety of local talent.
We just celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Johnson City Sessions with a downtown festival and concerts by musicians who carry on the legacy of Old-Time music today. The history and celebration of the Johnson City Sessions has been spearheaded by faculty from East Tennessee State University’s Center for Appalachian Studies. Their dedication to the preservation and study of old time music gives them considerable expertise in this unique period of musical history.
For more information about The Johnson City Sessions, here are a few links and resources.
- Johnson City Sessions – Wikipedia Article
- Can You Sing Or Play Old-Time Music? The Johnson City Sessions (article – written by Ted Olson)
- The Johnson City Sessions 1928-1929 (recording compilation – produced by Ted Olson & Tony Russell)
- The Johnson City Sessions – Can You Sing Or Play Old-Time Music? (4-CD Deluxe Box Set)
- Tell It To Me – The Johnson City Sessions – Revisited (CD)
If you are looking for the studio and rehearsal space in
Downtown Johnson City, it is now closed.