Monroe County Joins Tennessee Music Pathways with Josh Graves Memorial Exhibit
TELLICO PLAINS, TN – The Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center in Tellico Plains is now a designated stop on the Tennessee Music Pathways with an exhibit honoring Josh Graves, a Grammy Award winner, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductee and Dobro legend.
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development’s statewide Tennessee Music Pathways features locations that connect visitors to the people, places and genres significant to music history.
During the Cherohala Skyway Festival, a ribbon cutting was held by the Monroe County Department of Tourism for the exhibit now open to the public. Tim Graves placed a Dobro in the exhibit case in honor of his uncle’s legacy.
In the mid-1950s, Josh Graves joined Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs’ Foggy Mountain Boys as a bass player, and also sometimes performed his “Uncle Josh” comedy routine on stage. During this time, he became “The King of the Dobro” and was famous for his unique Dobro picking style that was followed by the cooled-down bluesy tunes. Graves remained a member of the Foggy Mountain Boys, appearing with them on the Grand Ole Opry and the popular “Martha White” television show. He launched his solo career in 1974, releasing his LP album “Alone at Last.” He was also a much sought-after sessions musician, contributing to recordings for Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and others. He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1997.
Memorabilia of Josh Graves - on loan from the Graves family - can be found in the exhibit, as well as information about his music career. The Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday March-December and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. January-February.
For more information about visiting Monroe County, visit www.monroecountytourism.com.
About Tennessee Music Pathways
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development kicked off the Tennessee Music Pathways in September 2018. The statewide program identifies, interprets, promotes and preserves events, locations and stories of Tennessee’s rich musical heritage. The department worked with several historians to identify locations for markers, including birthplaces, resting places, hometowns, high schools and churches, and locations of first-known recordings or performances of musical pioneers and legends. There are more than 300 points of interest with more to be established in future months. For more information, visit www.tnmusicpathways.com.