Charles Blevins

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Charles Blevins
CHARLES BLEVINS PLAYING A BANJO.jpg
Background information
Born1925
Pike County, Kentucky, US
DiedAugust 24, 2004(2004-08-24) (aged 78) [1]
Borderland, West Virginia, US
Genres Folk music
Instrument Banjo [2]
Formerly ofCharles Blevins and the Independenent Mountaineers [3]

Charles Blevins was a West Virginia folk music artist and the owner of Red Robin Inn, in Borderland, West Virginia. [4]

Contents

Career

Blevins began his career in coal mining for 16 years, following in the footsteps of generations before him who had worked for the Borderland Coal Corporation in Mingo County, West Virginia. [5] [6] He later served in the US Navy during World War II and was stationed aboard the battleship, USS Alabama. [1]

Red Robin Inn

After retiring, Blevins opened the Red Robin Inn with his father in 1953 in Borderland, West Virginia. [1] He began his music career performing at the inn, often accompanied by his collection of banjos. His musical journey was deeply inspired by his mother and grandmother, who played various instruments. [7] The tavern closed in 1993 when construction of U.S. Route 119 required the land it occupied. In its memory, a museum called Red Robin Plateau was established across the Tug Fork in Pike County, Kentucky. [8]

Film

Blevins appeared in the West Virginia Public Broadcasting documentary Mountaineer, alongside Denise Giardina and Clyde Case. The film explores West Virginia culture and folklore. [3]

Personal life

Blevins is the brother-in-law of Burl Stafford. [9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Charles Vernon Blevins". North Alabama Heritage Dulcimer Association. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  2. "Charles Blevins Playing Homemade Banjo, Borderland, W.Va". West Virginia University. 1974. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Mountaineer - West Virginia Culture Documentary". PBS. 1974. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  4. Nussbaum, Nancy (October 4, 1992). "Bye, bye, Birdie - Red Robin's fate has the inn crowd singing the blues". newspapers.com. Associated Press . Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  5. Caudill, Tim (October 31, 1994). "Charlie Blevins tunes and interview; 10/31/1994". Augusta Arts and Culture. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  6. Nussbaum, Nancy (February 14, 1992). "Last Call for Red Robin Inn, Preservation Hall for Appalachia's Culture". LA Times . Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  7. "SFC Audio Cassette 13321: Charlie Blevins interview, Borderland, W. Va., 22 January 1991: side 1". University of North Carolina. January 22, 1991. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  8. Kline, Michael (February 9, 2024). "Red Robin Inn". eWV. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  9. "July 2019 - Obituaries". Mingo Messenger. July 26, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2025.