Knoxville in Knox County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
The Knoxville Girl
The Louvin Brothers
— Cradle of Country Music Tour —
Photographed By Joel Seewald, May 31, 2018
1. The Knoxville Girl Marker
Inscription.
The Knoxville Girl and other adaptations of folk ballads were among the earliest popular recordings in country and bluegrass music. The Knoxville Girl was among the early national recording hits for WNOX radio stars, The Louvin Brothers. , , In 1744 in Berkshire, England, a miller named John Mague was hanged for murdering his financée. The gruesome murder and the eventual capture and execution of the murderer soon were adapted into the oral tradition of English folk ballads. Folk ballads were an important part of the cultural traditions imported to the North American continent by European immigrants. These ballads would be "Americanized" by changing the names and locations of events in the song to match the new surroundings of the settlers. It is through this process that the story of murder and justice in faraway England came to be known in America as The Knoxville Girl.
The Knoxville Girl and other adaptations of folk ballads were among the earliest popular recordings in country and bluegrass music. The Knoxville Girl was among the early national recording hits for WNOX radio stars, The Louvin Brothers.
In 1744 in Berkshire, England, a miller named John Mague was hanged for murdering his financée. The gruesome murder and the eventual capture and execution of the murderer soon were adapted into the oral tradition of English folk ballads. Folk ballads were an important part of the cultural traditions imported to the North American continent by European immigrants. These ballads would be "Americanized" by changing the names and locations of events in the song to match the new surroundings of the settlers. It is through this process that the story of murder and justice in faraway England came to be known in America as The Knoxville Girl. (Marker Number 2.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1744.
Location. 35° 57.698′ N, 83° 54.982′ W. Marker is in Knoxville, Tennessee, in Knox County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and South Gay Streeet, on the right when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Main Street, Knoxville TN 37902, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . The Knoxville Girl. (Submitted on June 14, 2018, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2018, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 426 times since then and 50 times this year. Photo1. submitted on June 14, 2018, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
