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Along with her brother Alex, Ola Belle wrote over 200 songs. Ola was a
powerful true Appalachian contralto singer who could really belt one out
while expressing a range of emotions, and was an out standing banjo player
in the old time claw-hammer style. Dave Sturgill, in defining this style,
said that from the viewpoint of the audience, the musician’s hand seems to
be acting as a “fist whamming” the banjo since the thumb and finger form a
“C” shape while a highly rhythmic sound is produced. Ola’s repertoire
included traditional ballads learned at her grandmother]s knee, and her
own original compositions reflecting her mountain heritage.
“Reed
was one of the first women to take a leading role in traditional music,
both in performance and songwriting. She relied heavily on her own life’s
experience for material. Forthright on stage or off, she was quick to
apologize for imperfect English, yet able to convey a message better than
most. Among her best known songs are “High on a Mountain,” Sing me a Song”
and “I’ve Endured” ” said Stephanie Ledgin in her review of Ola Belle for
the Field Recorders collective 203 CD. “High on a Mountain” is considered
a real Blue grass classic and has been performed by several artists
including Marty Stuart which earned Stuart and Ola Belle a Gold Record.
Though Ola Belle Reed passed on in 2002, her music will always
stay. One of her songs, “I’ve Endured” describes her life this way: “I’ve
worked for the rich, I’ve lived with the poor, Lord, I’ve seen many a
heartache, there’ll be many more. I’ve lived, loved, and sorrowed, been to
success’s door, I’ve endured, I’ve endured.”
The Lansing NC Ola
Belle Reed Festival Aug. 18-20, 2006 has the following mission statement:
“Ola Belle Campbell Reed [1916-2002] legendary country singer, was a
strong force for good who touched countless lives. The Ola Belle Reed
Homecoming Festival is an opportunity to celebrate the life and music of
this remarkable woman in the locale where her life’s journey began, in the
small community of Lansing, along the New River in the Mountains of North
Carolina.” |
|
|
When |
What |
| Aug 17, 1915 |
Ola Wave was born at the family home place at Grassy Creek on the New
River in Ashe Co, NC, near Lansing, to Arthur Harrison Campbell and Ella
Mae Osborne Campbell. There were 13 children, 7 boys and 6 girls.
|
| 1933 |
The family left Ashe Co in the Depression just prior to Ola’s HS
graduation, moving to Cecil Co, MD, and later to Lancaster Co and Chester
Co, PA |
| 1936 |
Ola joined the “North Carolina Ridge Runners” as a vocalist and banjo
picker. The group performed on radio stations, made albums, and played at
music parks in the MD, PA, DE area, such as Sunset Park at Jennersville,
PA . At this time, Ola changed her name from Ola Wave to Ola Belle. |
| 1940's |
The family store, Campbell’s Corner, was established at Oxford, PA.
|
| 1948 |
“North Carolina Ridge Runners” disbanded. Ola
Belle and her brother, Alex founded the”New River Boys and Girls” after
Alex returned from WW II service, where he was wounded in the Normandy
Beach invasion. |
| 1949 |
“New River Boys and Girls” began broadcasting on
radio station WASA, Havre de Grace, MD. The show was named “Campbell’s
Corner” after the family store. Broadcasts expanded to WCOJ, WBMO, and
WWVA. The group recorded and performed at music parks, also. Ola Belle
married Ralph “Bud” Reed, also a performer. The Reed family grew by two
over the years, adding sons Ralph Jr. and David to the family music
tradition. |
| 1950 |
Ola and Bud Reed began operating “Rainbow Park”
in Lancaster Co, PA. Ola ,Bud, and Alex founded “New River Ranch” near
Rising Sun, MD. |
| 1958 |
“New River Ranch” was severely damaged by storm.
A stage and live performances at the store at Oxford were added. |
| 1960'S |
The New River group transferred to Sunset Park at Jennersville, PA ,
where they performed for 26 years. Recordings on Starday were initiated.
During the urban “folk revival”, there were performances at colleges and
festivals throughout the US. This included: Bethany College, U of DE, E TN
State, Indiana U, Lehigh U, U of MD, OH State U, Peabody Conservatory of
Music, U of PA, PA State U, Rutgers U, and Yale U.
|
| 1969, 1972, 1976 |
She performed at the Festival of American Folklife, at the Smithsonian
Institution, Washington, DC.
|
| 1975 |
Performed at Philadelphia Folk Festival, U of
Chicago Folk Festival, Maryland Folklife Festival and North Carolina Folk
Festival. |
| 1976 |
MD and NC were repeated and she performed at
Kennedy Center, Washington, DC. Then they swept the west coast from
Seattle to San Diego with “An Old Time Music Festival” |
| 1977 |
Found her at the Foothills Festival, TN. |
| 1978 |
The University of Maryland awarded Ola Belle an
Honorary Doctorate degree. She was also recognized by the Smithsonian, the
American Folklore Center at the Library of Congress and the Country Music
Association. The Smithsonian cited her “a powerful and articulate
interpreter of issues related to the problems of cultural continuity and
change.” |
| 1970's and 1980's |
Ola Belle, sometimes with family, recorded on
Folkways and Rounder record labels |
| 1982 |
She performed at the World’s Fair, Knoxville,
TN |
| 1984 |
Alex retired, but continued to transmit radio
programs on WGCB and tend to record sales. |
| 1986 |
Ola received a National Heritage Fellowship,
National Endowment for the Arts Honors, and grants from the Maryland State
Arts Council. The NEA called her a “National Cultural Treasure.” |
| 1987 |
A severe stroke ended Ola Belle’s career. |
| August 16, 2002 |
One day shy of turning 87, Ola died in Rising
Sun, MD |
| 2005 |
Ola Belle Reed was selected for the Washington
Area Music Association Hall of Fame. |
If you have ideas for historical briefs about Oxford, please email us and let us know.
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