Arts & Culture

Next Two 'Appalachia in the Bluegrass' Concerts Feature Dynamic Duos Lee 'Boy' and Johnny Sexton, Local Honeys

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 8, 2015) — The next two "Appalachia in the Bluegrass" concerts will showcase old time duos in their beginning with folk music legend Lee "Boy" Sexton and his son Johnny Sexton followed by the Local Honeys. The concert featuring Lee "Boy" and Johnny Sexton will begin noon Friday, Oct. 9. The following week the Local Honeys will perform at noon Friday, Oct. 16. The concerts will take place in the Niles Gallery of the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music, located in the University of Kentucky Lucille C. Little Fine Arts Library and Learning Center. Both concerts are free and open to the public.

Lee "Boy" Sexton performs "False True Lover" and "Shady Grove." 

Like Father, Like Son

Kentucky native Lee "Boy" Sexton is one of the most revered folk musicians in Eastern Kentucky, appearing in the 1980 film "Coal Miner's Daughter" and being presented with the Kentucky Governor's Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts in 1999.    

His son, Johnny Sexton, enjoyed a long career in the coal mines and as an Old Regular Baptist preacher before returning to playing music with his father. Johnny is a gifted guitarist and singer with an extensive knowledge of traditional music in the Eastern Kentucky region.

"The Local Honeys" with Stephanie Jeter from Reginald Bareham on Vimeo.

Leading Ladies

Montana Hobbs and Linda Jean Stokely are the charming duet behind the Local Honeys. Born and raised in Central and Eastern Kentucky, Hobbs and Stokely were the first females to graduate with Bachelor of Arts degrees in traditional music from Morehead State University.  

Their sincere dedication to Kentucky music has allowed the Local Honeys to cultivate a distinguished sound that has captivated audiences across the country and internationally in Canada, Ireland and Jamaica.

The Appalachia in the Bluegrass concert series celebrates the old time roots of American folk music by featuring a diverse range of traditional musical expression. The concert series will showcase 12 different artists, duos and groups from Southern Appalachia ranging from artists straight off their front porch to those who have earned international acclaim.

The John Jacob Niles Center for American Music, host of the concert series, is a collaborative research and performance center maintained by the UK College of Fine ArtsUK School of Music and UK Libraries.

For more information on the Appalachia in the Bluegrass concert series or the concerts featuring Lee "Boy" and Johnny Sexton or the Local Honeys, contact Ron Pen, director of the Niles Center, by email to Ron.Pen@uky.edu or visit the website http://finearts.uky.edu/music/niles

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu