Moss - Cranky Journey

I spent my early childhood days growing up on the Appalachian Plateau of Tennessee and Kentucky surrounded by musical influence that would take me much longer to appreciate in my life. My mother and father both grew up in large farming families and members of both families engaged in playing music during their free time. My parents both sang in the choir at Berea College.

Both of my grandparents' homes had a piano that my cousins and I would try to play, some with more success. In one home, a mountain dulcimer and autoharp, which was my favorite, and the other always had a musical saw in the corner my grandfather would sometimes get out. He also taught me at a very young age how to play the kitchen spoons, something I had completely forgotten for nearly fifty years but when I tried playing them again, it was like I'd never stopped.

By the time I came along, music making was not as much a part of my parents' regular family life and it wasn't until very recently that I heard about the Moss Family Band who traveled around to local venues in their community to perform old time and gospel tunes.

In 2016, I bought a ukulele and started my own music practice with a small informal group of women. I had never really played an instrument or sung with others before and it has been such a joy to discover. I also now play guitar and, of course, spoons.