10/31/2026
Happy Halloween from the Center for Pioneer Life!
We will be having trick-or-treating at the Center today from 12–3 PM!
While you're here, visit our historic Josiah and Frances Ray Young Cabin, where Murphy Campbell filmed her music video for “Gamblin’ Man,” released today!
In 1918, Clercy Deyton of Jacks Creek sang it for English folk song collector Cecil Sharp. Sharp traveled throughout the Southern Appalachian Mountains collecting traditional ballads and folk songs, hoping to preserve music that had been passed down orally for generations. He was particularly interested in songs with roots in England, Scotland, and Ireland that had survived in Appalachian communities.
Decades later, local fiddler Queen Belle Randolph Honeycutt recorded “Gamblin’ Man” on an album with her sister Naomi.
Today, Murphy Campbell carries on this centuries-old tradition of Appalachian ballad singing, bringing songs passed down through generations to new audiences. Her rendition of “Gamblin’ Man” is a wonderful reminder that these songs are not simply pieces of history, but living traditions that continue to be shared, performed, and reinterpreted.
Come enjoy some Halloween treats at our beautiful historic farm !
When Appalachian Balladry comes to mind, it doesn't sound like Gamb...
