OHR Presents: Jimmy Driftwood II

This week, legendary songwriter, performer, folklorist, historian and Ozark original Jimmy Driftwood recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Dave Smith gives an historical portrait of the life of this remarkable Ozarker.

There was never a more popular, outspoken or controversial musician or personality to come out of Stone County, Arkansas than James Corbitt Morris (better known as Jimmy Driftwood.)  Driftwood was a driving force behind the creation of the Ozark Folk Center State Park and a successful singer songwriter who penned “The Battle of New Orleans” and “Tennessee Stud” among other notable songs. Jimmy helped put Stone County on the musical map and left a legacy that is still talked about to this day. Our program this week features special and seldom heard songs from some of Jimmy’s archival Ozark Folk Center performances.

Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment offers an archival recording from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives of Jimmy Driftwood demonstrating playing a tune on a hickory leaf.

Author and historian Brooks Blevins provides a native’s view of the people, music, and colorful events that shape the Ozark region. This week, Brooks presents a brief history of the very first Arkansas Folk Festival and folk singer Jimmy Driftwood’s efforts in starting the event that has been held annually in Mountain View, Arkansas since 1963.