BRAHM showcasing Blue Ridge music through vintage posters - Published March 5, 2025
BLOWING ROCK — The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is striking a chord with its latest exhibition, A Cardboard History of Blue Ridge Music, a unique showcase of Bluegrass and Appalachian music history.
The exhibit features 36 original letterpress-style posters, some dating back as early as 1939, preserving the visual and historical record of a genre that has become one of Western North Carolina’s most cherished cultural exports.
At the heart of the collection is longtime poster collector Tom Murphy. His fascination with collecting began when he was 13 years old while living on an Air Force base in Alabama, where he would ask for discarded movie posters at the local theater.
“I would just say, ‘I want the poster,’ and they’d say, ‘Sure, here it is,’” Murphy said.
What began as a childhood hobby evolved into a lifelong passion, with Murphy accumulating thousands of posters spanning movies, concerts, circuses, and auto shows. After moving to Raleigh, Murphy discovered bluegrass posters in antique shops, many featuring unfamiliar names that intrigued him.
“I thought each poster told its own story, so I just started collecting these unknown names—unknown to me,” he said. “When COVID hit, I sat down with my collection and realized the best story I had was about regional music.”
Murphy’s collection of old country and Bluegrass posters eventually grew to about 70. After connecting with BRAHM, he curated 36 posters that tell the story of the region’s musical heritage, focusing not only on major figures but also on local artists who played an essential role in the development of the genre.
Before the digital age, eye-catching posters were the primary way to advertise concerts. These handbills, printed on inexpensive paper or cardboard, were tacked onto telephone poles, storefronts, and barns. Despite their temporary nature, some survived, offering a glimpse into the rise of Bluegrass music from local gatherings to worldwide recognition.
This exhibition is made possible through a grant from America 250 NC, an initiative by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The Watauga Democrat and Mountain Times newspapers are the presenting sponsors.
