Michael Abraham

Harmonic Highways Michael Abraham

Southwest Virginia is the fertile crescent of Appalachian heritage music, known as bluegrass and old time music. The idea began in 2003 in a brainstorming session of area planners, visionaries, and musicians to link a series of music venues on a continuous trail to generate economic development and tourism by focusing on the unique musical heritage. It was to be called the Virginia Heritage Music Trail. Joe Wilson, generally accepted as the godfather of the project, nicknamed it The Crooked Road. The response was immediately and resoundingly positive.
While the bane to many automobile drivers, crooked roads are universally loved by motorcyclists. A product of the area and a lifelong motorcyclist, I found the idea of riding it irresistible.
In the spirit of Bill Bryson, Paul Theroux, and Tim Cahill, I rode The Crooked Road from the East terminus to the West, stopping to meet and interview musicians, luthiers, and promoters. But I also met coal miners, moonshiners, athletes, businessmen, preachers, and entrepreneurs to give readers a well-rounded look at what makes the culture and region so special and unique.