Nashville musician and producer releases second installment of Appalachia: Ballads, Bloodlines & the Long Journey Home, featuring stories and songs rooted in East Tennessee.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Smokies.LIVE Information Center) — Nashville-based musician, producer and multi-instrumentalist Richie Owens is continuing to preserve Southern Appalachian history through the release of a new book and companion album exploring family heritage, mountain folklore and the complicated stories passed down through generations.
Appalachia: Ballads, Bloodlines & the Long Journey Home Vol. 2 is the second installment in Owens’ book and music series. The project draws on family photographs, court records, newspaper clippings, inherited songs, personal conversations and Appalachian legends to explore the people and experiences that shaped his family’s history.
While the first volume traced Owens’ family roots across oceans and into the hollers of East Tennessee, the second installment delves further into stories of hardship, survival, loss and resilience.
“Appalachia has never been as simple as the picture people like to paint of it,” Owens said. “There’s beauty here, but there are scars too. I wanted to tell both.”
The book explores a range of subjects, including musical brothers Louis and Bill Owens, who carried their music from East Tennessee radio to Nashville’s publishing industry, and trailblazing evangelist Dorothy Jo Owens. The collection also draws on regional folklore and stories reflecting the complexities of mountain life.
The companion album brings the book’s stories to life through original songs and spoken introductions. Produced by Owens and recorded at Fireside Studios, the album features Owens on lead vocals and acoustic guitar alongside longtime collaborators Bob Ocker and Joe Sharp, as well as Paul Hollowell, Andrea Young and Eric Leckrone. John Constable handled engineering and mastering.
Owens, who grew up in a musical family with roots stretching from Northern Wales to East Tennessee and Nashville, built a career blending country traditions with punk and alternative rock. He helped establish Nashville’s punk and alternative scene with bands including The Resistors and The Movement and has worked with artists such as the Georgia Satellites, Social Distortion, Vince Gill and Michael Stipe.
He has also produced several Dolly Parton albums, including Hungry Again, Precious Memories and Smoky Mountain DNA.
The book is available to order online, and the companion album can be streamed on major music platforms.
Learn more: Visit Richie Owens’ website for additional information about the project.
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