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Appalachian folk act Pigeon River Messengers will perform at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley. A duo based in the...

Bobby McMillon is considered one of the leading authorities in Southern Appalachian music. He grew up hearing first hand the scary stories and witch tales that his family told. His grandfather had an old Victrola record player, and a lot of old records. Bobby loved to listen and learn the old songs.

AVERY COUNTY — Folklorist Derek Piotr is piecing together bits of history and culture through song, recording each straight from the source and archiving them to ensure they’re never lost.

Robert Lynn “Bobby” McMillon (1951-2021) was a traditional ballad singer, musician and storyteller from Yancey County , N.C. He grew up hearing first hand the scary stories and witch tales that his family told. His grandfather had an old Victrola record player, and a lot of old records. Bobby loved to listen and learn the old songs. It wasn’t long before he began to realize that some of the recorded songs were similar to the old songs that his family and neighbors sang. In his teens he developed an avid interest in documenting these songs, spending any free time visiting and recording.

Bobby McMillon passed away on November 28, 2021. His passing leaves a great void in the traditional music and Appalachian cultural landscape. Throughout the course of his life, Bobby took this awareness he gained from his grandfather’s passing and turned it into a legacy of collecting, performing, and friendships.