JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Down Home venue buzzed with excitement as it hosted a significant event marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Rich-R-Tone Records Historical Marker.

Rich-R-Tone Records holds the distinction of being the first record label established in East Tennessee and the pioneer in bluegrass music worldwide. It was founded by local legend James Hobart Stanton, a native of Johnson City.

In a fitting tribute to Stanton, WEHC Radio orchestrated a live broadcast celebrating the legacy of the late and iconic bluegrass artist.

The event saw performances from more than six bands, harking back to the early days of Rich-R-Tone Records in the 1940s. These included bluegrass performers and promising talents from East Tennessee State University’s Old Time and Roots Music Program, as shared by Ivy Sheppard, Radio Operations Coordinator.

“Today, we had the pleasure of hosting six bands on stage, featuring music from those who graced Rich-R-Tone Records with their talent,” Sheppard remarked. “The lineup included The Mulkey Brothers, The Stanley Brothers, The Coral Family, Emily Stoney Cooper, and comprised regional musicians who are part of ETSU’s Bluegrass and Old Time program. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and honor the music that has profoundly influenced us.”

Artists sang folk, country and gospel songs.

One band in particular, The Bluegrass Fairlight, sang “Little Maggie” by the Clinch Mountain Boys and The Stanley Brothers, and said they were honored to carry on the Bluegrass legacy.

“It’s become like a Bluegrass standard if you go to any jam, you’ll probably hear Little Maggie,” The Bluegrass Fairlight said. “So many people have recorded it and it’s cool to be doing a Rich-R-Tone performance cause that’s where it really all started at.”

Ted Olson, a Professor in Appalachian Studies at East Tennessee State University, said the Bluegrass songs the ETSU students sang at the celebration were the very records they learned in their classrooms.

“The artists here today sang interpreted recordings originally recorded by Stanton with the first generation of Bluegrass artists from Appalachia,” Olson told News Channel 11. “The Rich-R-Tone records were what they studied in the classroom and so now it was their turn to bring that music back to the public by performing at this radio show tonight.”   

In addition to bluegrass performances, a new box record was introduced in honor of the 80th anniversary of Rich-R-Tone Records.

The record box set, called the Rich-R-Tone Folk Star Story, features all of Stanton’s extant recordings from 1946 to 1954.

The box features 12 CD records and a book, with the box taking eight years to gather, according to Olson.

“It took about eight years to gather all these recordings, but we’ve got them all on this box set, 12 CD’s and a book, and we’re here to celebrate that legacy,” Olson told News Channel 11. “He was a native to Johnson City, so it was appropriate to celebrate his contributions right here in Johnson City.”