North Carolina Musicians

Daniel Coston’s career in photography began accidentally. A magazine writer, he began taking photographs for his stories when the regular photographer was unavailable, and his contacts as a writer led him to invitations to take pictures of local musicians. His life-long fascination with the sounds of North Carolina music drew him to begin documenting the musicians in his adopted state. This book is a collection of the best photographs and the stories behind them from the past sixteen years. From Doc Watson to Ben Folds, musicians of all genres are represented here in the studio, in concert, at festivals, and at home. Coston also interviewed members of the Avett Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Squirrel Nut Zippers and many more.

Daniel Coston is a North Carolina-based photographer, writer, and traveler. His photography credits include work with Johnny Cash, the Avett Brothers, the Down From The Mountain tour, and many others. He lives in Charlotte.

Daniel Coston

Foreword by Meg Freeman Whalen

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 220
Bibliographic Info: 140 photos, index
Copyright Date: 2013
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7461-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0361-2
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments    vi
Foreword by Meg Freeman Whalen    1
Introduction    7

1. In the Studio    9
Fidelitorium Studios (Kernersville)    9
Reflection Studios (Charlotte)    14
Studio East (Charlotte)    17
Hooverama (Charlotte)    18
Old House Studios (Gastonia)    19
On the Radio    26
WTVI Studios (Charlotte)    26
Recording Away from a Studio    31
Electromagnetic Recorders (Winston-Salem)    33
Echo Mountain Studios (Asheville)    36
Overdub Lane (Durham)    40
Studio M (Durham)    42
The Rubber Room (Chapel Hill)    44

2. On the Road    46
The Triangle Area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill)    48
On the Way to the Outer Banks    54
The Mountains and the Piedmont Triad    55
The Charlotte Region    58
Music Everywhere You Go    77

3. On Stage    82
North Carolina Music Scene in the 1990s    83
Southern Culture on the Skids    88
The Avett Brothers    91
Following the Musicians    97
Peter Holsapple    100
Nappy Brown and Bob Margolin    104
Playing Live Across the State    106
The Briarhoppers    109
George Hamilton IV    110
Andy Griffith    114
Tift Merritt    117
Chatham County Line    118
Earl Scruggs    121
George Shuffler    122
Jimmy Brown of Matrimony    123
Anywhere You Turn, a Good Show    127

4. Festivals    135
Bluegrass and Traditional Music    135
Rock and Roll and Beach Music    157
Blues and Jazz    161
Gospel Music    162
Best of the Rest    165

5. At Home    167
Joe Thompson    167
Dom Flemons: Reflecting on Music    171
Notable Others Who Called North Carolina Home    174
Writing and Recording from Home    181
Home Is the Place for Music    193

Final Thoughts    196
Index    199