Introduction

This exhibit highlights live recordings of bluegrass performances from the 1970s and 1980s, featuring recordings from the Leon McIntyre Collection in the Archives of Appalachia at East Tennessee State University.

Leon McIntyre (1941-2011) had a lifelong interest in bluegrass as a performer, deejay, writer, and collector. He co-created and deejayed a bluegrass and country music show called “Bluegrass Overnight” that ran for over 20 years on WAMU in Washington D.C. He played in a bluegrass band that toured around D.C. called “None of the Above.” McIntyre also wrote reviews for “Bluegrass Unlimited” and was active in the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).

Items in the Leon McIntyre Collection include correspondence, flyers, brochures, pamphlets, photographs and reel-to-reel recordings of live bluegrass performances throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

This exhibit includes a selection of recordings from the McIntyre reel-to-reel tapes. The recordings showcase important shows, venues, and performers in bluegrass history.