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Living History

from Mentor by William Ritter

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about

I've written a number of "ethnobotanical songs." Most of them are humorous and light-hearted, but I took a different track with this one. It's a song of true stories. Multiple people told me about "tommytoes" (cherry tomatoes) bearing fruit until a killing frost--sometimes they'd even pick them out of the snow. Nowadays diseases, particularly late-blight, make this unlikely. I've grown out tomato and bean seeds that had really been frozen for 30-40 years. Bryson Farm Supply in Sylva, still sells old local tomato varieties that were long frozen in the back of old freezers. I wanted to capture the feeling I get when I walk through my garden of heirloom mountain plants--all collected from people--not catalogs. Each tendriling bean plant, and strung up tomato, sprawling candyroaster has a face and a story behind it. It makes my garden a sacred memoryscape--as much as anything, that's what I want to pass on to people. I have the same relationship with tunes and songs--the ones I treasure most are not the most catchy or profound or unique. I most value the songs I learned from friends. Every time I play those pieces, the music transports me to dance halls, car rides, front porches, and living rooms.

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from Mentor, released September 23, 2022

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William Ritter Bakersville, North Carolina

William Ritter is a native of Bakersville, NC William plays banjo, fiddle, guitar, and other "string-ed things." He is particularly interested in old apple trees, family heirloom seeds, and mountain humor. In 2019, he received the *In These Mountains* Folklife Apprenticeship Grant from the NC Arts Council to study with ballad singer extraordinaire, Bobby McMillon. ... more

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