The Museum of Appalachia will celebrate the legacy of Cas Walker, 4-6 p.m. Saturday, March 2, with a special program of live music, rare video clips and museum exhibit. Tickets are $10, and publicist Jennifer Johnsey says seating is limited.
Cas Walker on the set of the Farm and Home Show, circa 1950
Orton Caswell Walker (1902-98) sold groceries, but his genius was marketing.
“Early on, Walker understood the value of using country music to sell groceries, buying up air time on local radio, and later making the switch to television. Walker’s popular programs could be seen and heard over the local airwaves from 1929 until the early 1980s,” said Johnsey.
Cas Walker’s store in Happy Holler
David West and the Ciderville Band will perform and West will reminisce about his days playing for Cas Walker on the WBIR-TV Farm and Home Show.
Joshua Stephens Hodge, author of the upcoming book “Cas Walker Stories: Life and Legend,” will speak on his experience documenting Walker’s colorful life story.
Bradley Reeves organized the show, which will include a special screening of video clips from the Farm and Home Show, classic commercials, vintage music performances and hilarious bloopers and outtakes.
Tickets to the event include admission to the Museum of Appalachia’s Hall of Fame, featuring the Cas Walker exhibit, with artifacts from his early career. Preview begins at 3 p.m.
Drew Fisher, old-time music revivalist, will perform tunes by the legendary Tennessee Ramblers, a family string band from Clinton. The Museum is located 16 miles north of Knoxville, one mile east of I-75, at Exit 122.
Advance tickets at www.museumofappalachia.org. Info: 865-494-7680.