In this series, we often spend time with artists and styles of music that are not celebrated in the mainstream, and our guest here is no exception. With a focus on music that is from artists living in the South and on music that has roots from the region, we are constantly talking with bluegrass, blues, country, rock and Americana artists in this endeavor. These forms of music are immensely important to the history and legacy of original music in this country, but they seldom are associated with today’s biggest stars, and even they are not the only game in town when one treks to the musical land of Niche. One reason why we love those genres is simply because they became so popular, fueling one of America’s great exports to the world. But it is easy to get wrapped up in that history and culture and lose sight of other traditions that also are not celebrated in the mainstream, nor are part of the narrative where roots music born in the South becomes foundational to a preponderance of popular music in the twentieth century. In this conversation with Jake Xerxes Fussell, I was reminded of that.

That reminder is just one part of our conversation, which took place in mid May 2023 at the Albino Skunk Music Festival in Greer, SC. Jake played a solo set on guitar, and afterwards we spoke about his deep roots in folklore, about his fourth album Good and Green Again, being a DJ on WHUP in Hillsborough NC and more in this episode which also features excerpts of music from his live set.

Jake Xerxes Fussell performs at the Albino Skunk Music Festival, 05/13/23

Songs heard in this episode:

“Raggy Levy” by Jake Xerxes Fussell, live at Albino Skunk Music Festival 05/13/23“Rock Steady” by Aretha Franklin, excerpt

“Morning Train” by Precious Bryant, from The Truth, excerpt

“Frolic” by Jake Xerxes Fussell, from Good and Green Again, excerpt

WHUP’s Fall Line Radio show excerpt from 07-12-23

“The River St. Johns” by Jake Xerxes Fussell, live at Albino Skunk Music Festival 05-13-23

We are so grateful when you tell someone about this series, and it is easy to follow us on your podcast platform of choice, where it will only take a minute to give us a good rating, and where it is an option, a review. When you do that, it makes this series go up in the rankings, which means that more people just like you will find it, and more people will get turned on to the artists and endeavors we profile. This series is a part of the lineup of both public radio WNCW and Osiris Media, with all of the Osiris shows available here. You can also hear new episodes of this podcast on Bluegrass Planet Radio here. Thanks to Corrie Askew for producing the radio adaptations of this series on public radio WNCW, where we worked with Joshua Meng who wrote and performed our theme songs.

This is Southern Songs and Stories: the music of the South and the artists who make it. — Joe Kendrick

Artist stereotypes do not apply

How many times have parents cringed when their children fell in love with a musician? Let's be honest, the world has looked askance at artists of all stripes (with notable exceptions) for most of our history. Musicians tend to be thought of as people who may be great at their art but who are nonetheless pretty bad at life skills like paying bills, getting to work on time, and sticking with the missus.

Aaron turns all those stereotypes on their head; he is not only a fantastic songwriter and musician, but he also runs his own construction business and is a devoted family man living a stone's throw from where he grew up in the western NC mountains. He is as meticulous and intense about his guitar and ballads as he is about his green built homes and raising his two girls.

As you'll see in our pilot episode, Aaron does both life and art exceptionally well. The folks around him are a big part of that.