Beautiful voice. I grew up on the music of Appalachia and despite what some say of the people of Appalachia, we're still proud of the place we call home.
Im from a northern state but my heart belongs to the appalachian mountains and the ways of the folks who live there. Thankyou for keeping your traditions alive.
I have lived in the mountains of North Carolina all my life, i have grown up sitting in a rocking chair in the basement of an old vacuum cleaner repair shop in Boone town watching Doc Watson and others play good old bluegrass and old ballads, little did i realize how privileged i was to get too be there at that time and place. Keep up the wonderful singing of the old ballads for it surely would be ad to lose those over time.
It's been a while since I have responded to any of your comments bc I just figured out how to make my own channel, etc on here. Lol! But, I just want to say thank you all so much for your kind words. This video was made for an interview I did with the Knoxville News Sentinel, that is why I am talking during it and not just singing. I am so glad that you all enjoy my singing and like to hear my voice. I am very proud of where I come from and my heritage. If it weren't for people like you all who are interested in these old love songs, I wouldn't get to continue singing them. So, please share this video, tell your friends about ballad singing. Come to the festivals and events that we perform at. It is so important to keep this dying tradition alive and I will keep singing until I can't anymore, if you will keep listening. :) Thank you again!
I really enjoy hearing you sing. I have been learning about your family for years and have even picked up some of your songs. The traditions of Madison County are a real inspiration to me, and I hope you check out my Soundcloud sometime. I love to sing ballads, and have made it a personal goal of mine to preserve them. Thanks!
Living here in the "cities" people are pretty ignorant of the Appalachia. I wish to visit it again soon... Donna Ray Norton, you've got an amazing voice! Keep it up.
Would love to know if anyone can remember the words to Little Alice. Some of the lyrics are: Along they walked, along they talked til they reached a sandy bluff. He drew a stick from the fence and hit her in the head.
I wish we had more people singing the old ballads here I this state. Only one place here still does them, but mostly it's "newgrass" songs the people want to hear, so the old songs are forgotten. Good a cappella ballad and shape note singing is hard to find unless you go to Tennessee, North Carolina, or Virginia. North Carolina especially has folks who still cherish the old songs and old ways.
The way she bends the notes at the end of the lines makes her singing distinctive and haunting. There's something really powerful about the unaccompanied human voice singing a really, really ancient song.
I was raised on bluegrass music, my Daddy loved it, he is gone from this earth now, some of the songs were so sad, some were teaching, some were funny. I remember Woah mule, and a song about, will you marry me today sweet ( will i ow ) Ill have to find my Daddys collection of songs
Keep on singing young lady. Do what you love. because what you love is your "true calling"...and one day you will be loved and respected for that very thing.
Holy Moses!! I got cold chills!! I have been hunting the verson of Young Emily that you sing on here for 25 years. I heard it first when I was 13 on "A Prairie Home Companion" . LOVE IT!! Think I will learn some of these and go sit on the side of a mountain by the river in Boone NC and sing while it echoes of the water!!
It is so nice to found a young Appalachian Balladeers, I have been so craze about Appalachian ballad since I met Ron Pen at Kentuckey 2007. Hey Donna, please try to sing with eye oppening and more expression, I think it will be more meaningful.
Very nice. I also am drawn to music that turns out was probably familiar to my ancestors. Maybe they gather around and chime in? Can't hear 'em but can feel it. I think Dixie culture is actually born of spiritual starvation, it has a winsome beauty.
American history is in these songs; the history of the poor, white masses, the immigrants and their descendents with their daily life and trials. This is the origin of poor White's blues that later combined with African-American blues until we eventually had rock and roll, and bluegrass music. They must be preserved so kudos to the young who are carrying on the tradition.
I have finally run across some more ballad singers keeping the tradition alive. A lost art. I am a beginner. Only sang 8 times on a small bar stage here in Charleston, West Virginia. You have a beautiful voice my dear.
You are so very welcome. It is looking more and more like I need to make a little trip down your way to try and get some knee to knee on some of those porches down there.
This is so ironic that I received a reply from you, as I recently sent a note to your cousin, Sheila Kay Adams, making inquiries and such. Looking forward to visiting
My brother in law and his family are from the coal country of Kentucky and are Melungeon. PBS did an interesting story years ago on the Melungeon people. Very interesting.
Perfect pitch, and that is a rare commodity among singers, even some of the professionals. Great performance. BTW, Pretty Peggy-o was performed by Simon and Garfunkel, although to a different melody.
Thank you. Not all of our ancestors married into the Cherokee, or Choctaw. Appalachian culture is more than singing and needs to be preserved. Orginial Appalachian land is being taken away by the US Forest Service from the orginal families for the ever moving Appalachian Trail buffer or for recreatioin areas.
Donna Ray, Just got your version of Dickey Said To Johnny which I'm learning. I'll probably do the slower version with banjer like Morris Norton did. You do a fine version fo the song. Know any history behind the song? Thanks.
where is the song black is the colour from??? as far as i know its scotish, but its a traditional Irish standard.... the words are very similar but not the same...... type... christy moore - black is the colour..... in the search engine check it out
Sing with eyes open and more expression. Next you'll be wanting her to dress in sequins and have an exploding stage with shred guitars. Obviously you've never sat and really listened to real ballad singers perform. The truth is in the song, not some slicked up Nashville arrangement. Too bad you missed the point. Taylor Swift is on RUclips. Check her out. That may be more your cup of tea.
Your music in your voice touches me it gets under my skin is so beautiful anybody that can sing like that has to be a beautiful person to
I hope you are still singing from
your SOUL Sis!
WOW!! absolutly beautiful. and so is the songs. I am a kentucky mountain man. beautiful voice.
Beautiful voice. I grew up on the music of Appalachia and despite what some say of the people of Appalachia, we're still proud of the place we call home.
Im from a northern state but my heart belongs to the appalachian mountains and the ways of the folks who live there. Thankyou for keeping your traditions alive.
Check out Ballad of a Lonely woman by Kathleen Burnett , she has captured.the true essence of Appalachia
thank you for sharing the balla singing with us youtube watcher. Please continue the singing
I have lived in the mountains of North Carolina all my life, i have grown up sitting in a rocking chair in the basement of an old vacuum cleaner repair shop in Boone town watching Doc Watson and others play good old bluegrass and old ballads, little did i realize how privileged i was to get too be there at that time and place. Keep up the wonderful singing of the old ballads for it surely would be ad to lose those over time.
It's been a while since I have responded to any of your comments bc I just figured out how to make my own channel, etc on here. Lol! But, I just want to say thank you all so much for your kind words. This video was made for an interview I did with the Knoxville News Sentinel, that is why I am talking during it and not just singing. I am so glad that you all enjoy my singing and like to hear my voice. I am very proud of where I come from and my heritage. If it weren't for people like you all who are interested in these old love songs, I wouldn't get to continue singing them. So, please share this video, tell your friends about ballad singing. Come to the festivals and events that we perform at. It is so important to keep this dying tradition alive and I will keep singing until I can't anymore, if you will keep listening. :) Thank you again!
I really enjoy hearing you sing. I have been learning about your family for years and have even picked up some of your songs. The traditions of Madison County are a real inspiration to me, and I hope you check out my Soundcloud sometime. I love to sing ballads, and have made it a personal goal of mine to preserve them. Thanks!
absolutely remarkable
Living here in the "cities" people are pretty ignorant of the Appalachia. I wish to visit it again soon...
Donna Ray Norton, you've got an amazing voice! Keep it up.
Would love to know if anyone can remember the words to Little Alice. Some of the lyrics are: Along they walked, along they talked til they reached a sandy bluff. He drew a stick from the fence and hit her in the head.
Wonderful wonderful music. Thanks for the clip . Peggy Oh is magic here as is Low Lands Low.. All the best , Guy
Donna please put some more of your songs on youtube. Beautiful
The purest water is found deep underground. This music stirs my soul.
I wish we had more people singing the old ballads here I this state. Only one place here still does them, but mostly it's "newgrass" songs the people want to hear, so the old songs are forgotten. Good a cappella ballad and shape note singing is hard to find unless you go to Tennessee, North Carolina, or Virginia. North Carolina especially has folks who still cherish the old songs and old ways.
The way she bends the notes at the end of the lines makes her singing distinctive and haunting. There's something really powerful about the unaccompanied human voice singing a really, really ancient song.
What a lovely sound. I'm from Irish background in UK and this is so on the button. Grew up listening to old guys singing just this way.
Please keep this tradition alive
I love it
I was raised on bluegrass music, my Daddy loved it, he is gone from this earth now, some of the songs were so sad, some were teaching, some were funny. I remember Woah mule, and a song about, will you marry me today sweet ( will i ow ) Ill have to find my Daddys collection of songs
Keep on singing young lady. Do what you love. because what you love is your "true calling"...and one day you will be loved and respected for that very thing.
hauntingly beautiful!
I love your voice keep up the tradition
I'm the 50,000 viewer. I guess that will be my claim to fame in life. LOL Love this music. I'm from Tennessee so it's in my blood.
Love your songs
Holy Moses!! I got cold chills!! I have been hunting the verson of Young Emily that you sing on here for 25 years. I heard it first when I was 13 on "A Prairie Home Companion" . LOVE IT!! Think I will learn some of these and go sit on the side of a mountain by the river in Boone NC and sing while it echoes of the water!!
I could listen to you all night. Thank you so much for keeping our history alive.
Appalachian songs. I just LOVE them! Can't get enough of them. No, I'm not Appalachian. Wish I was
beautiful spirit, bautiful voice.
thanks much. reminds of sitting with my grandmother on the porch swing late at night a long long time ago...
excellent- love the voice- reminds me a little of Elizabeth LaPrelle, love both sounds- well done
It is so nice to found a young Appalachian Balladeers, I have been so craze about Appalachian ballad since I met Ron Pen at Kentuckey 2007. Hey Donna, please try to sing with eye oppening and more expression, I think it will be more meaningful.
If this young lady would release an album, I would buy it in a heartbeat. Beautiful, haunting stuff.
Beautiful singin. I'd love to come up to the Appalachians. I also love the mountain dancing too.
Sweet voice.
Very nice. I also am drawn to music that turns out was probably familiar to my ancestors. Maybe they gather around and chime in? Can't hear 'em but can feel it. I think Dixie culture is actually born of spiritual starvation, it has a winsome beauty.
AWESOME. from a banjo player from Virginia.
American history is in these songs; the history of the poor, white masses, the immigrants and their descendents with their daily life and trials. This is the origin of poor White's blues that later combined with African-American blues until we eventually had rock and roll, and bluegrass music. They must be preserved so kudos to the young who are carrying on the tradition.
We are glad you found these useful for your class.
Her voice gives me chills. Unbelievable beauty.
I have finally run across some more ballad singers keeping the tradition alive. A lost art. I am a beginner. Only sang 8 times on a small bar stage here in Charleston, West Virginia. You have a beautiful voice my dear.
Emily Haynes thank you so much! I really appreciate it!
You are so very welcome. It is looking more and more like I need to make a little trip down your way to try and get some knee to knee on some of those porches down there.
Emily Haynes sounds good! You just let us know when and I’m sure we can arrange it. 😊
This is so ironic that I received a reply from you, as I recently sent a note to your cousin, Sheila Kay Adams, making inquiries and such. Looking forward to visiting
Love it! Love it! Love it!
Beautiful voice !
love your singing .
My brother in law and his family are from the coal country of Kentucky and are Melungeon. PBS did an interesting story years ago on the Melungeon people. Very interesting.
Perfect pitch, and that is a rare commodity among singers, even some of the professionals. Great performance. BTW, Pretty Peggy-o was performed by Simon and Garfunkel, although to a different melody.
love your singing - help me find more pl. thx
Sounds really good!!
lovee this
@loganberry30 I agree with you :-) I'm a foreigner and lived in this region for one year, and I fell in love with the place and people ^_^
not only can she she hit it on the notes,she's very beautiful,too.
I wish I had a talent for it!
you are brilliant! You can hear the scottish..
And the Irish.
awesome
These Ballads were brought to the region from England many can be found in English Litrature.
Thank you. Not all of our ancestors married into the Cherokee, or Choctaw. Appalachian culture is more than singing and needs to be preserved. Orginial Appalachian land is being taken away by the US Forest Service from the orginal families for the ever moving Appalachian Trail buffer or for recreatioin areas.
Donna Ray, Just got your version of Dickey Said To Johnny which I'm learning. I'll probably do the slower version with banjer like Morris Norton did. You do a fine version fo the song. Know any history behind the song? Thanks.
The way she's singing kinda reminds me a bit of Native American singing and Irish mixed together. Just something that came to mind.
Where can I find more or connect with you.
My family is from Harlan, Kentucky.
I really enjoy your music 🎶☺️.
Thank you for sharing.
I love your voice! I wish I could find more recordings of this kind of music. Any suggestions?
Where can I find more music like this?
cool
Who know's her in person? Ask her to do Appalachian remake of the Bonnie Dundee song. Watch>>"The Corries-Bonnie Dundee"
A very talented man named Peter Hollens can help you get your voice out there! He has a channel here on youtube. I wish you well!
How do I get a CD!!!!!! Excellent voice
never mind, got it
Is it possible to post the full songs without the narration? Not that it's bad, I'd just like to hear the full version.
PLEASE - say it right, it's "Apple-at-CHa" - there's no "shhhh" sound in there. PLEASE - say it right.
where is the song black is the colour from??? as far as i know its scotish, but its a traditional Irish standard.... the words are very similar but not the same...... type... christy moore - black is the colour..... in the search engine check it out
Appalaychia? Who the heck ya got working up there in Knoxville? It's pronounced Appalatchia!
Great folk ballads and singing though!
Can you hear duelling banjos?
whats the name of the ballad she is singing in the begining of the video?
Theres just something about female appalachian ballads......
Sing with eyes open and more expression. Next you'll be wanting her to dress in sequins and have an exploding stage with shred guitars. Obviously you've never sat and really listened to real ballad singers perform. The truth is in the song, not some slicked up Nashville arrangement. Too bad you missed the point. Taylor Swift is on RUclips. Check her out. That may be more your cup of tea.
Funny how this Melungeon music sounds Semitic and west african
why do you think you have to talk while the video is playing why dont you be quiet and let the people deside wiether you can sing or not
I love your attention to authenticity and your true artistry - thank you!