Music
Press
"It is a fair bet you have never heard the Jack Tales from anyone like Jerry Harmon,even in the rural South.It comes to you in rapid fire,almost monotone, and you have to pay attention to follow it. The listeners focus that results, only intensifies the effect of Harmons Magical Stories.He also writes traditional country songs that are no small revelation. They are cast in the form of Hank Williams and his honky tonk successors. Its almost as if Harmon is approaching these forms for the first time(which of course he isn't) he treats them with wide eyed seriousness, creating long chains of stanzas with rough hewn but deep images."-James M. Manheim
- ANN ARBOR OBSERVER
"It is a fair bet you have never heard the Jack Tales from anyone like Jerry Harmon,even in the rural South.It comes to you in rapid fire,almost monotone, and you have to pay attention to follow it. The listeners focus that results, only intensifies the effect of Harmons Magical Stories.He also writes traditional country songs that are no small revelation. They are cast in the form of Hank Williams and his honky tonk successors. Its almost as if Harmon is approaching these forms for the first time(which of course he isn't) he treats them with wide eyed seriousness, creating long chains of stanzas with rough hewn but deep images."-James M. Manheim
- ANN ARBOR OBSERVER
"Talk about a fish out of water, Jerry Harmon aka "The Smoky Mountain Gypsy"lived up to and beyond crowd expectations with his performance Saturday at Amigos. Harmon thrilled the audience with original music along with Authentic Appalachian Mountain humor and storytelling." Declan Kelly - THE STAR PHOENIX
"Talk about a fish out of water, Jerry Harmon aka "The Smoky Mountain Gypsy"lived up to and beyond crowd expectations with his performance Saturday at Amigos. Harmon thrilled the audience with original music along with Authentic Appalachian Mountain humor and storytelling." Declan Kelly - THE STAR PHOENIX
"Jerrys performance was extremly well received by a large crowd captivated by his distinctive style,and tremendous talent while presenting his authentic music and storytelling. He completly engaged an audience previously unfamiliar with his unique form of entertainment" Tricia Forsyth Manager of Winnipeg International Writers Festival
- WINNIPEG INTERNATIONAL WRITERS FESTIVAL WINNIPEG MANITOBA CANADA
"Jerrys performance was extremly well received by a large crowd captivated by his distinctive style,and tremendous talent while presenting his authentic music and storytelling. He completly engaged an audience previously unfamiliar with his unique form of entertainment" Tricia Forsyth Manager of Winnipeg International Writers Festival
- WINNIPEG INTERNATIONAL WRITERS FESTIVAL WINNIPEG MANITOBA CANADA
"Harmon, down to earth and genuine is a very talented and authentic mountain storyteller and musician. This was evident from the first moment he walked on stage" Shelia O'hearn News Express Staff Writer
- FERGUS ELORA NEWS EXPRESS ON. CANADA
"Harmon, down to earth and genuine is a very talented and authentic mountain storyteller and musician. This was evident from the first moment he walked on stage" Shelia O'hearn News Express Staff Writer
- FERGUS ELORA NEWS EXPRESS ON. CANADA
Jerry Harmon - the Smoky Mountain Gypsy
Viewpoint By Danita Stoudemire - Features editor
"As a boy in the country I never knew that we were poor. Our house wasn't much, four room frames and wooden floors. But the things that mattered most in life, I never did without. There was food on the table and love in the house"
Keeping his roots in Western North Carolina is easy for Jerry Harmon, a guitar-playing storyteller who grew
up in a family where "music and storytelling was as big a part of family as living was."
Harmon actually grew up in a little town next to Boone and says Franklin reminds him of where his roots began. Jerry Harmon is carrying on the family tradition.
Harmon has fond memories of a grandfather who gathered the children around the old fireplace on cold evenings to tell them stories that had been passed down from Council Harmon, a great-great-greatgrandfather who brought the famous "Jack Tales" to America from England in the early 1800s.
These tales, and many more from growing up in the Appalachian Mountains, are part of the show that Harmon takes on the road with him when he performs at festivals and music halls around the country.
"I grew up with music," Harmon said. "My dad and grandpa played the banjo, and at the age of 12 I was learning to play a banjo my uncle made from wood and groundhog hide." Harmon, now 46, feels blessed to have lived in a family where tradition was as sacred to the family as music,
and he wants to share both with anyone who will listen, especially the children. "I love to tell my stories to children in schools," he said. "Their eyes get all big and wide open. It's so rewarding and so much fun to watch them. I like passing this tradition on." Harmon's performances depend largely on his audience. At schools, he tells the "Jack Tales" his grandfather told and at festivals, he tells humorous stories - some true and some made up.
Harmon performed with big names like Ricky Skaggs, Mary Stuart and Dolly Parton when he took the stage at the annual Merle-Fest in 1998 in Wilksboro. He has also made appearances at the Dahlonega Bluegrass Festival in Georgia and the International Writer's Festival in Canada, just to name a few. Established as a songwriter, 95 percent of his songs are original. He plays some bluegrass, some basic country, but admits he has a sound of his own.
"My influences were so wide - from Hank Williams Sr. to the Sex Pistols," he said. But his songs tell stories. Stories of love, life and just plain living.
Harmon has lived in Franklin six months but says this will probably be his hometown for a long time to come. "My home base can be anywhere, and I like it here." Though Harmon has many character traits, he says being egotistical isn't one of them. "Fame just isn't that important to me. It's all right if people know me or if they don't, as long as I'm making a living doing what I love to do, I'm happy."
Harmon would like to take his tales into the local schools and community, where he would also like to give guitar lessons to those who are serious about learning. It's all about carrying on tradition, he says. Next month, Harmon will be traveling to California to perform, then on to Germany in April. After working solo for a long time, Harmon is now working with Ed Hensley, a former member of the Gatlin Brothers. "Ed adds a lot to my act and is one of the best harmonizers I've ever worked with," Harmon said. If it works
out, the two will find a booking agent in the state and take their show on the road together. Until then, Harmon will carry on the tales he grew up with, charm audiences with his music and plant his roots
in Franklin.
"Mama had a way of fulfilling every need, from a gentle word of kindness to a bandaid on a knee. Life wasn't complicated and fairness was dealed out, there was food on the table and love in the house." - Jerry Harmon
Harmon may be reached at (828) 734-3232, log on to his web site at www.jerryharmon.com
Copyright © 2005 The Franklin Press
- The Franklin Press / Danita Stoudemire - Features editor
Jerry Harmon - the Smoky Mountain Gypsy
Viewpoint By Danita Stoudemire - Features editor
"As a boy in the country I never knew that we were poor. Our house wasn't much, four room frames and wooden floors. But the things that mattered most in life, I never did without. There was food on the table and love in the house"
Keeping his roots in Western North Carolina is easy for Jerry Harmon, a guitar-playing storyteller who grew
up in a family where "music and storytelling was as big a part of family as living was."
Harmon actually grew up in a little town next to Boone and says Franklin reminds him of where his roots began. Jerry Harmon is carrying on the family tradition.
Harmon has fond memories of a grandfather who gathered the children around the old fireplace on cold evenings to tell them stories that had been passed down from Council Harmon, a great-great-greatgrandfather who brought the famous "Jack Tales" to America from England in the early 1800s.
These tales, and many more from growing up in the Appalachian Mountains, are part of the show that Harmon takes on the road with him when he performs at festivals and music halls around the country.
"I grew up with music," Harmon said. "My dad and grandpa played the banjo, and at the age of 12 I was learning to play a banjo my uncle made from wood and groundhog hide." Harmon, now 46, feels blessed to have lived in a family where tradition was as sacred to the family as music,
and he wants to share both with anyone who will listen, especially the children. "I love to tell my stories to children in schools," he said. "Their eyes get all big and wide open. It's so rewarding and so much fun to watch them. I like passing this tradition on." Harmon's performances depend largely on his audience. At schools, he tells the "Jack Tales" his grandfather told and at festivals, he tells humorous stories - some true and some made up.
Harmon performed with big names like Ricky Skaggs, Mary Stuart and Dolly Parton when he took the stage at the annual Merle-Fest in 1998 in Wilksboro. He has also made appearances at the Dahlonega Bluegrass Festival in Georgia and the International Writer's Festival in Canada, just to name a few. Established as a songwriter, 95 percent of his songs are original. He plays some bluegrass, some basic country, but admits he has a sound of his own.
"My influences were so wide - from Hank Williams Sr. to the Sex Pistols," he said. But his songs tell stories. Stories of love, life and just plain living.
Harmon has lived in Franklin six months but says this will probably be his hometown for a long time to come. "My home base can be anywhere, and I like it here." Though Harmon has many character traits, he says being egotistical isn't one of them. "Fame just isn't that important to me. It's all right if people know me or if they don't, as long as I'm making a living doing what I love to do, I'm happy."
Harmon would like to take his tales into the local schools and community, where he would also like to give guitar lessons to those who are serious about learning. It's all about carrying on tradition, he says. Next month, Harmon will be traveling to California to perform, then on to Germany in April. After working solo for a long time, Harmon is now working with Ed Hensley, a former member of the Gatlin Brothers. "Ed adds a lot to my act and is one of the best harmonizers I've ever worked with," Harmon said. If it works
out, the two will find a booking agent in the state and take their show on the road together. Until then, Harmon will carry on the tales he grew up with, charm audiences with his music and plant his roots
in Franklin.
"Mama had a way of fulfilling every need, from a gentle word of kindness to a bandaid on a knee. Life wasn't complicated and fairness was dealed out, there was food on the table and love in the house." - Jerry Harmon
Harmon may be reached at (828) 734-3232, log on to his web site at www.jerryharmon.com
Copyright © 2005 The Franklin Press
- The Franklin Press / Danita Stoudemire - Features editor
Storyteller brings Jack's tales alive
Jerry Harmon told stories and sang songs to students from W.A.
Young Elementary School on Friday.
Heather Sanders (The News Herald)
By Heather Sanders
hsanders@morganton.com
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Morganton - A piece of the Appalachian Mountains came to W.A. Young Elementary School on Friday. Students heard storytelling and songs from Jerry Harmon.
Harmon is the last direct descendant of Council Harmon, who brought the Jack Tales from Europe to Watauga County. Harmon said the Jack Tales feature a boy named Jack. Although Jack is very poor, he uses his wits to get what he needs. Jack also is a trickster, and he often uses his tricks against people who have done him wrong. Jack is no stranger to W.A. Young students as he is the Jack who went up the Beanstalk. The tales originated in England and Germany, Harmon said. Similar tales have even shown up in India.
But Harmon is more familiar with the stories he heard from his father and Ray Hicks, who married Rosa Harmon. Hicks took up telling Jack Tales and was even honored by the
Smithsonian, Harmon said. Hicks passed storytelling on through his family before he died. His cousin, Orville Hicks, keeps the tradition alive with storytelling around the
Watauga County area. Harmon takes the tales and his music even farther than that.
He recently went on a music tour through Europe. Before that, he spent three weeks in California, telling his stories at schools.
W.A. Young invited Harmon to kick off its accelerated reader program. This year, the school will focus on the Appalachian heritage, said Principal Jennifer Hawkins.
To hear samples of Harmon’s storytelling and music, visit www.jerryharmon.com.
- Heather Sanders (The News Herald)
Storyteller brings Jack's tales alive
Jerry Harmon told stories and sang songs to students from W.A.
Young Elementary School on Friday.
Heather Sanders (The News Herald)
By Heather Sanders
hsanders@morganton.com
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Morganton - A piece of the Appalachian Mountains came to W.A. Young Elementary School on Friday. Students heard storytelling and songs from Jerry Harmon.
Harmon is the last direct descendant of Council Harmon, who brought the Jack Tales from Europe to Watauga County. Harmon said the Jack Tales feature a boy named Jack. Although Jack is very poor, he uses his wits to get what he needs. Jack also is a trickster, and he often uses his tricks against people who have done him wrong. Jack is no stranger to W.A. Young students as he is the Jack who went up the Beanstalk. The tales originated in England and Germany, Harmon said. Similar tales have even shown up in India.
But Harmon is more familiar with the stories he heard from his father and Ray Hicks, who married Rosa Harmon. Hicks took up telling Jack Tales and was even honored by the
Smithsonian, Harmon said. Hicks passed storytelling on through his family before he died. His cousin, Orville Hicks, keeps the tradition alive with storytelling around the
Watauga County area. Harmon takes the tales and his music even farther than that.
He recently went on a music tour through Europe. Before that, he spent three weeks in California, telling his stories at schools.
W.A. Young invited Harmon to kick off its accelerated reader program. This year, the school will focus on the Appalachian heritage, said Principal Jennifer Hawkins.
To hear samples of Harmon’s storytelling and music, visit www.jerryharmon.com.
- Heather Sanders (The News Herald)
Discography
> Back To The Country
> Pickin & Tellin
> Woke Up In Frisco
> Walking to Cleveland (pre release)
> standing at the corner of walk and don´t walk
cuts of each album receive or have received airplay from Ireland, Canada and the USA
Photos
Bio
Deep in the foothills of the Blue Ridge / Appalachian mountain chain in North Carolina, Jerry was born into a family rich in the tradition of story telling and music. He has been playing music, singing and teling stories since the age of twelve.
His great-great-great grandfather, Council Harmon, was the first to introduce "Jack Tales" to America from Europe. These tales, the origin of Appalachian Mountain storytelling, have been faithfully passed down through the generations. Jerry's cousin, legendary storyteller Ray Hicks, had the rare distinction of being inducted into the Smithsonian as a National Treasure.
Jerry launched his musical career at an early age, strumming a banjo fashioned from wood and groundhog hide by his uncle. Radio programs featuring Hank Williams Sr., Flatt and Scruggs and Ray Price also proved a lasting influence. His first break came in 1998 with an invitation to appear at North Carolina's renowned Merle-Fest, where some of the country's most celebrated musicians erform. There he shared the stage with Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, Marty Stuart, Earl Scruggs and Dolly Parton.
His growing reputation as a remarkable storyteller and all around perfromer soon provided opportunities for his original music to be discovered. Jerry quickly gained recognition as an accomplished guitarist with a unique style and a gifted songwriter and singer.
He has appeared at major festivals and venues in the U.S. Canada and Europe. There have been many write-ups about Jerry in Europe, Canada and the USA -- far too many to post. His past performances (more than 700 to date) have included prominent festivals and venues throughout the world. The Merle Fest, Winnipeg Ineternational Writers Fest, White Horse Fest, The Bath Fringe Festival, and this is but a very few. Jerry recently recorded "Standing at the corner of walk and don't walk" an album released through Music Central Records in Nashville that was submitted for a grammy.
Although Jerry lives In the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and remains true to his roots, he travels throughout the World performing at festivals, schools, small and large venues alike, captivating audiences with an engaging blend of musicianship, gentle wit, and genuine mountain charm. He is an incredible performer and one that will remain in your memory.
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