| Although you'd have never heard him or any of his kinfolk admit it, Ray Hicks was a living legend. By telling stories and singing old folk ballads, with and without his harmonica, Ray brought joy and a feeling of "country" and "down home" to countless thousands of children and adults. Here, in this non-narrated biography, viewers get to see the famed storyteller, learn about his life, see where and how he lived, meet his wife, Rosa, hear them sing a tune or two together, and view the great storyteller as he performed at the world-famous National Storyteller's Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. 08DR/CL IJSCA 30 min. |
| Ray Hicks was well known for telling beloved "Jack Tales"; his favorites were those that his grandparents used to tell him when he was a boy. Here the legendary Jack, who loves to help people whenever he can, has to do all he can to help a young girl overcome the magic spell a wicked witch placed on her by turning her into a cat. 08DR/CL IJSCA 30 min. |
| Everyone loves hearing the folktale of the Bremen Town Musicians, which was first made famous by the Grimm Brothers, and though borrowed from that famous legend, this "Jack Tale" is pure Appalachian when told by the legendary storyteller Ray Hicks. Here Ray tells how Jack was wrongfully "whooped" by his father and ran away from home. Then Jack meets up with an old donkey, ox, hound dog, tomcat and a rooster. They come upon a robber's house and together they prove they're not too old to outsmart the robber and end up with all his riches. 08DR/CL IJSCA 20 min. |
| This program features another beloved "Jack Tale" told by the legendary Appalachian storyteller Ray Hicks. Here brothers Will, Tom and Jack encounter a giant man. Ray calls him Dragon Man or the Fire Dragon - who is capable of spittin' fireballs. After the Fire Dragon eats the boys' "viddles," the older brothers send Jack down a hole to go after the Fire Dragon. In the hole Jack first meets up with 3 beautiful sisters, Martha, Mary and Marie; then the determined Jack defeats the Fire Dragon and he and his brothers end up with 3 beautiful wives. 08DR/CL IJSCA 30 min. |
| Some people call it mountain music; others describe it as hillbilly music. No matter what name it may go by, you can believe true Blue Ridge Mountain music is hearing Ray Hicks when he sings, with and without his harmonica, legendary American folk songs, such as Casey Jones, John Henry, and Reuben Train. 08DR/CL IJSCA 20 min. |