_{Alone with his guitar or banjo in his hands,}

_{His music a soul companion as he travels through the land,}

_{He sings of life and earth, of love and so much more,}

_{His voice will rise among the clouds, where the eagles soar.”}

These poignant passages, proffered by Michael Johnathon, hailing from Mousie, Kentucky, in a Folksinger’s Manual, describe so many of the singers and songwriters of eastern Kentucky who've made their way from the hills and hollers to the top of the country music charts. More...