HILTONS — A longtime fan favorite at the Carter Family Fold will return this Saturday. The McLain Family Band will take the stage at 7:30 p.m.
for an evening of bluegrass music. The McLain Family Band has performed for more than 50 years, and are one of two bands that have performed at the Carter Music Center — Carter Fold — since shows began in 1974. Direct from the hills of Kentucky, the McLain Family Band has become known internationally as one of the most spontaneous, creative and spirited groups performing contemporary Appalachian bluegrass music.
From 1968-1990, the group performed in all 50 states and 62 countries during 14 international concert tours, some as musical ambassadors of the U.S. Department of State.
The McLain Family Band played at the Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Lincoln Center and the Carter Fold. They were featured at thousands of festivals and concerts and performed as soloists in more than 230 appearances with orchestras. Raymond K.
McLain formed the McLain Family Band in 1968 with his son Raymond W. and daughters Ruth and Alice. Mr.
McLain was a Carter Family Memorial Music Center board member from the day the center was created. Raymond W. now serves on the Music Center’s board of directors and assists as artistic director at the Fold.
Raymond K. served for many years as executive director of Hindman Settlement School in Knott County, Kentucky. He studied folk music at Harvard and later at the University of North Carolina, then went on to develop and teach the first college courses in bluegrass and in Appalachian music at Berea College in 1971.
His mother, Beatrice “Bicky” McLain, was also a significant figure in American folk music, founding the Southern Regional Folk Life Center at the University of Alabama and serving as its first director. For 11 years, The McLain Family Band hosted The McLain Family Band Festival, which was featured on NPR’s Folk Festival USA and produced by Kentucky Educational TV for national distribution. Other television appearances include NBC’s Today Show, the CBS Morning News, Good Morning America, the Pearl Bailey ETV Special, the BBC, TNN’s Nashville Now and a Johnny Cash Christmas Special.
The McLain Family Band began performing at the Carter Music Center when Janette Carter first began presenting concerts in the old A.P. Carter Grocery in 1974.
The family band stopped touring on a full-time basis in 1990, but they are now touring again despite their busy schedules and teaching commitments. For more information on the McLains, go to www.mclainfamilyband.
com ..
