Grayson County

Western Grayson County has produced traditional musicians who performed at school entertainments, fiddlers’ conventions, and community gatherings for many generations. Among them were the old-time string band the Rugby Gully Jumpers—Walter Henderson on fiddle, Estil Ball on guitar, and Wade Reedy on mandolin—recorded in the 1930s by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress. Estil Ball and his wife, accordionist Orna Reedy Ball, built a national reputation as gospel singers through local radio shows and independent recordings, and they also performed with Blair Reedy, Charles Harless, and Charles Hodges as the Friendly Gospel Singers. Old-time banjoist Jont Blevins was admired locally for his unique style and powerful rhythm. The Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition is held annually here in the park on the third Saturday in June, with proceeds supporting a scholarship fund for mountain youngsters learning traditional music. National Heritage Award winner Wayne C. Henderson, the nation’s best known luthier, lives nearby, and a Henderson guitar is displayed at the Visitors’ Center inside the park. Grayson Highlands State Park also has fifteen miles of trails for walking, bicycling, and horseback riding, along with views, wildflowers in warm months, migrating birds in spring and fall, and wild ponies. The county is part of the Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, a southwest Virginia region where old time mountain music, bluegrass, and gospel were preserved through musical families and appreciative communities and continue to thrive through museums, festivals, concerts, radio shows, and jam sessions.

Virginia · United States