Postmark’s Enrichment Program to feature CC music history; local musicians

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Local musicians and music teachers Tony Branam and Joseph Hensley will be providing a lesson on the “rich” musical history of Campbell County on Friday as part of Postmark LaFollette’s Enrichment Program.

The program will take place Friday July 28, at 11am, at Postmark LaFollette. 

According to Branam, the event will include historical information about “when people from all over would come here just to enter and watch the riveting fiddle contest.”

Branam, who is also a multi-instrument teacher at Postmark, said the idea to do a program on Campbell County’s musical history was inspired by one of his students who “brought it up that he would like to know more about the music history of the county.”

Branam said he plans to talk about the big fiddle contest that LaFollette was famous for from the 1920s till the 1940s. It was an event that drew musicians from surrounding states to compete against one another for prizes. 

“People came from all over to compete in this contest. The fiddle contest was the main event, but they had banjo contests and other competitions too; it was a big draw for our community,” Branam said.

Friday’s Enrichment Program will also cover “early 1900s music up until the country music of the 1920s.”

“I want to introduce these kids to some of this older music and inspire them to dig further and look it up themselves; music like the Carter Brothers and DeFord Bailey,” Branam said. 

According to Branam, “Postmark LaFollette’s Enrichment Program is designed to enrich the education of the community. It’s a way to introduce kids and adults to different education opportunities they might not get in public or home school.”

Live music will be included as part of Friday’s program by Branam and Hensley. 

Postmark LaFollette is located at 119 S. Tennessee Ave. in LaFollette. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/25/2023-6AM)