Despite the fact that Janette didn't finish high school, she founded one of the first rural arts organizations in the U.S., established a museum, and preserved the musical legacy of the Carter Family -- the first family of country music -- for generations to come. A steadfast, life-long Christian, Janette was an inspiration to everyone who ever met her. Any tribute to her would naturally pay tribute to her strong faith.

The McLain Family Band has been performing at Carter Fold shows since Janette Carter first began presenting concerts in the old A.P. Carter Grocery in 1974. Raymond McLain, Sr., (now deceased) formed the family band in the late 1960s when his five children were very young. Mr. McLain was a Carter Family Memorial Music Center board member from the day the center was created. Although the McLain Family Band no longer tours, they try to perform at the Fold when their schedules permit.

Now headed up by Raymond McLain, Jr., the group has expanded to include some of the spouses of the McLain siblings. Raymond is Director of the Bluegrass and Country Music Program at East Tennessee State University. He also performs, produces, and records. Raymond serves on the Carter Music Center's board of directors in addition to serving as the Artistic Director at the Fold. Joining Raymond will be his sister Ruth McLain Smith on bass and vocals. Older sister Alice will lend her instrumental and vocal talent along with husband Al White on mandolin. Michael McLain will join the group on banjo, guitar, and vocals. His wife, Jennifer, will be featured on vocals and mandolin.

Raymond's 40 plus years of entertaining have taken him to performances in all 50 states and 62 foreign countries, including a tour as a musical ambassador of the U.S. State Department. For 21 years with the McLain Family Band, Raymond was featured internationally at thousands of festivals and concerts and as a soloist in appearances with over 230 orchestras. Raymond was with Jim & Jesse's Virginia Boys for ten years. He currently performs with Canadian harmonica whiz, Mike Stevens. Through the years, the McLains have produced dozens of CDs and records. For information on the McLain Family, go to www.mclains.com.

Hailed as an innovative musician, Mike Stevens transcends the perceived limitations of the harmonica. His aggressive, soulful approach to the instrument takes audiences on an incredible journey. Mike is best known for his groundbreaking work in the bluegrass field with Jim & Jesse. From Canada, he's won the Entertainer of the Year at the Central Canadian bluegrass awards five years running. He's won best selling album of the years awards, and he's a Kentucky Colonel. Mike has released several CDs. He regularly performs solo, and he and Raymond McLain often tour together in the summer months. Mike is simply unbelievable on harmonica. He performed at the Fold previously at the Carter Family Memorial Festival. For more information on Mike, go to: www.MikeStevensMusic.com.

Lonesome Will Mullins grew up near Clintwood, Virginia, in a house that was filled with family musicians and plenty of bluegrass, old time, and country music. He learned to play the banjo and guitar as a teenager, and before long he was playing in several bands while honing his trade by studying the work of bluegrass legends like Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, and Dr. Ralph Stanley. To say he learned well would be an understatement.

Today, Lonesome Will is one of the most versatile musicians around. Although he typically performs a traditional bluegrass show, Will is an accomplished gospel musician as well. Backed by his some of the finest bluegrass and old time musicians performing today, Will's gospel show will leave you spellbound. His traditional old-style Baptist hymns and a cappella numbers are breathtakingly beautiful. For more information on Lonesome Will Mullins, go to http://www.myspace.com/LonesomeWillMullinsAndTheVirginiaPlayboys.

For some of the most beautiful gospel music this side of Heaven, make plans to join us for this special tribute concert. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Janette Carter Memorial Endowment Fund and the Carter Music Center. Established in 2007 by the Center's board of directors and attorney, the fund was set up to insure that Janette's vision of preserving old time mountain music will continue for many generations to come.

Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to www.carterfamilyfold.org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at www.carterfoldshow.com. Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at TheCrookedRoad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information on Saturday's concert, contact the Mountain Music Museum at 276-645-0035. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054.

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