April King and Jake Mosley discuss their relationship, from meeting at a Drive-By Truckers show at the 40 Watt Club to their upcoming nuptials in South Carolina.
Kai Reidl talks about the music scene in downtown Athens, including Hot Corner and the Slingshot Festival. He also discusses economic development, collaboration, and the community.
Jacob Kennedy describes his experience as an undergraduate at the University of Georgia, including his developing interest in music and seeing shows downtown.
Venus Jarrell was born in Athens in 1946, where he attended West Broad Elementary School, Lyons Junior High, and Athens High and Industrial. He was an active band member in school and, after graduation, continued playing in the band at Mississippi Valley State University. In this interview, Jarrell talks about his time in the army (and the army band), his experience being Assistant Director at the East Athens Community, and individuals from his life he felt made an impact.
]]>https://russelllibraryoralhistory.org/RBRL361AOHP/rbrl361aohp-101Content Warning: This interview contains racial slurs.
Tony Rucker was born near Commerce in 1953 and grew up playing piano and saxophone. He attended the University of Georgia for his undergraduate and masters’ degrees before attending Florida State University for his doctorate. In this interview, Rucker details his childhood experiences and his journey in academia, and the importance of educators and a positive community. He worked for Clarke Central High School teaching choir and piano for over 30 years.]]>2024-02-07T22:29:10+00:00
Content Warning: This interview contains racial slurs.
Tony Rucker was born near Commerce in 1953 and grew up playing piano and saxophone. He attended the University of Georgia for his undergraduate and masters’ degrees before attending Florida State University for his doctorate. In this interview, Rucker details his childhood experiences and his journey in academia, and the importance of educators and a positive community. He worked for Clarke Central High School teaching choir and piano for over 30 years.
Cassie Evans was born in Athens, Georgia in 1991. Her youth was filled with creativity, writing poems, short stories, and raps that are tied to her current music career. In this interview, she talks about her experiences in athletics growing up and how an injury changed her life's trajectory. She reflects on the path she took to get to where she is today and explains the development of her music career, along the way emphasizing her creative nature, her love for family, and her views on what music says about society.
Dr. James Washington, Jr. was born in 1950 in Perry, Florida. In this second interview, Washington talks about his life post-high school, and remembers his time at Florida A&M University, where he majored in mathematics. He also talks about his seminary training at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and reflects on his time spent at the University of Georgia while he pursued his EdD in Adult Education. Along the way he dives deep into his experiences in the “Marching 100” band and running the Baptist Student Center at FAMU, his work in religious spaces following his seminary training, and valuable lessons he’s learned throughout his life.
Anderson recalls growing up in Decatur and his early interest in sports journalism, which he initially pursued at UGA. He discusses his shifting interest toward broadcast journalism, his work as a DJ in Athens and Commerce, and his move to Nashville to pursue a country music career after graduating from UGA in 1959. He recalls writing and recording his first hit, “City Lights,” his early success as a singer, performing in the Grand Ole Opry, and working on television.