It was by far the largest crowd that had every gathered at the barn-like music theater, built a year earlier by Janette Carter and her brother, Joe, to uphold a promise Janette made to their dying father—to keep his old-time music alive with Saturday night shows.
On this particular morning, we had all come to witness the reunion of the two surviving members of the famous Carter Family trio—50 years after the three left Poor Valley by car for nearby Bristol, Tennessee.
There's not a day more significant in the history of American music than the hot August 1927 afternoon a talent scout for the Victor Records—who was traveling the South looking for "hillbilly" acts—discovered and launched the careers of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. The Bristol recording sessions have been referred to as country music's "big bang."
Now, a half century after that historic day, two of the three Carters—Sara and Maybelle—were returning to Poor alley as guests at the A.P. Carter Memorial Festival. Adding to the excitement was an anticipated appearance by Johnny Cash.
Just after noon, two black Cadillacs pulled up to the Carter Fold music barn, followed by a green motorhome. The RV door opened and out stepped Cash, dressed in black.
He opened the Cadillac doors and escorted Sara and Maybelle (wearing matching gold dresses) to the Carter Fold. Maybelle walked uncertainly as she clutched her son-in-law's hand, while Sara strode purposefully, her head up, her eyes fixed ahead.
Inside the Carter Fold the three took seats in the front row, joined by Maybelle's daughters—June, Helen and Anita. Cash and his band entertained with a selection of familiar Johnny Cash classics before being joined on stage by his wife, June Carter Cash, and their son, John Jr.
That afternoon, Sara and Maybelle joined Maybelle's daughters on stage to sing Carter Family songs -tunes written, gathered or reworked by A.P Carter: "Keep on the Sunny Side," "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes" and "Wildwood Flower."
Though Maybelle was frail, her guitar licks were still strong, and Sara's deep voice still penetrating.
It was the last time the two performed together. Maybelle died the next year, Sara the following year.
As the memorable day came to a close, Johnny Cash joined the extended Carter family on stage for an emotional rendition of one of A.P's best known songs.
"Will the circle be unbroken/by and by, Lord, by and by/There's a better home a-waiting/in the sky, Lord, in the sky."
Most of the performers who took part in the 1977 reunion have, sadly, passed on. June Carter Cash and her two sisters, along with Janette's brother, Joe, are no longer with us. Johnny Cash died last year, soon after losing June.
But the music at the Carter Fold continues every Saturday night, thanks to Janette's ongoing determination to keep the old-time songs—and the Carter Family legacy—alive.
And for those of us fortunate enough to be there in 1977, it was a priceless moment in Poor Valley.
Note: These archival articles are presented exactly as they appeared at the time of the issue in which they appeared. As such, all quotes, as well as references to temporal facts, artifacts and other items are contemporaneous to the date of original publication.