Morehead State Public Radio will broadcast “Heart of the Orchard.” The first program will air at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 4.
The six-part series features an hour of Americana music with a focus on old-time, traditional, folk, bluegrass, and country music. MSPR will repeat each program in the summer series through Aug. 20.
Host and producer of the series is Hayley King, a 2023 graduate of Morehead State University, completing a double major in Traditional Music and Spanish.
“I found my love of bluegrass music when I was ten years old, hearing it for the first time at my hometown farmers’ market,” said King. “I later discovered my family has deep roots in traditional Appalachian music. I am so thankful I ended up at Morehead State, studying the music that has become such a big part of who I am.”
Through songs, stories, and personal reflections, “Heart of The Orchard” will highlight various styles of Americana music found in Appalachia and nearby regions.
“I will share how various music genres are connected, how they evolved over time, and some of my favorite artists,” commented King. “My hope is these programs will inspire listeners in their own discoveries as music truly is a living orchard of history, emotion, and humanity.”
King explains the origins for “Heart of the Orchard” comes from childhood memories and her family’s autumn visits to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
“My family would pick apples at a nearby apple orchard. I was amazed at the many varieties of apples, and their diversity of tastes, textures, and colors,” King explained. “Similar to those orchards, it’s fascinating that so many unique music styles could develop in the same Appalachian region, much like the variety of apples in an orchard.”
WMKY serves more than 20 counties throughout Eastern Kentucky from the campus of Morehead State University. Listeners can listen to WMKY at 90.3FM, online, phone app, or smart speaker.
Additional information on Morehead State Public Radio is available online at www.wmky.org, by emailing General Manager Paul Hitchcock at p.hitchc@moreheadstate.edu or by calling 606-783-2334.