Appalachian State University's Fred Hay grew up with the son of legendary singer James Brown in north Georgia. He also knew original members of The Famous Flames, the band that James Brown began his career fronting.

Hay’s upbringing inspired academic interests in anthropology and African Appalachia, but the region he knew was different from the one he found represented in scholarship. Continually, he came across books about Appalachian culture cataloged as “Mountain Whites” by the Library of Congress.

The idea of Appalachia as a diverse place – producing diverse music – is hard for some people to accept.

“There are plenty of people that say James Brown isn’t an Appalachian musician. But he’s from Appalachia,” said Hay, librarian of the university’s W.L. Eury Appalachian Collection and Anne Belk Distinguished Professor and Professor of Appalachian Studies. “What makes a person Appalachian? To be from Appalachia.”

Fifteen years ago, Hay petitioned the Library of Congress to change the standard subheading for Appalachian biographies and cultural studies. Thanks to his efforts, the go-to subheading is now “Appalachian People.”

The recognition of diversity in Appalachian music has seen an uptick since Hay – the senior ranking faculty member of the University Libraries – began his career. Forty years after he asked Toccoa, Georgia, to recognize Ida Cox, a local blues singer and vaudeville performer, the town hosts a music series in her honor. And Nafloyd Scott, the last surviving member of The Famous Flames, has also received public attention.

Hay finds the developments heartening as both a scholar and former resident there. “You don’t want to exclude voices, nor do you want to fail to recognize their influence,” Hay said. “When I was growing up, the town didn’t want to be associated. We were just emerging from Jim Crow, and people looked down on something as new as James Brown’s music. Now, they’re embracing their own.”

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About University Libraries

University Libraries at Appalachian State University serves the students, faculty and staff of App State’s Boone and Hickory campuses, contributing to the university’s mission of learning, teaching, advancing knowledge, engagement and effectiveness. Belk Library and Information Commons, the Erneston Music Library and the Hickory Library and Information Commons provide academic resources for all App State students and faculty. Within Belk Library, students and faculty find group and quiet study spaces, digital devices to check out, the Digital Media Studio, the Makerspace, the Virtual Realty Studio, the Special Collections Research Center and more. Learn more at https://library.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.