Smoky Mountain DNA is about family, faith and fables, and the magic that has always been right there for me, buried deep in my family’s Smoky Mountain DNA
There is an expression you’ll hear a lot
around here, it goes a little like this:
You can take the girl out of the mountains, but
you can’t take the mountains out of the girl.
Grabbing on to punk spirit in the late 70s
Richie became one of the founding fathers of the Nashville punk and alternative rock scene, launching one of the first Nashville indie rock labels and building his own studio when he was still in his early 20s.
Featured Artist
Richie Owens
Music isn’t just in Richie Owens’ blood, it’s in every muscle and sinew of his body, not to mention his soul. Credit it to a bloodline that runs from the hills of Northern Wales to the mountains of East Tennessee and on to the backstreets, music clubs and studios of Nashville. But it’s also the result of a life dedicated to absorbing musical influences, fusing them with his own talent and voice, and making music the hard and simple way, with heart, soul and determination.
A Family Steeped in Song and Story
“Watching my Aunt Dolly and the rest of the family perform was like having a front-row seat to a masterclass in music and storytelling. From harmonizing in church pews to singing around the family, music was our way of life, and I couldn’t wait to join in.”
Queen of the Modern Mountain Ballad
“Dorothy Jo could write a heartbreak honky tonk song as good as any man, but she particularly excelled in the crafting of “Modern Mountain Ballads.”
Our Roots Our Song
The Smoky Mountain DNA project is a tribute to the generations of the Owens and Parton families whose faith, music, and storytelling shaped an enduring Appalachian legacy. This site brings together their history. From humble cabins and front-porch singing to the stages and airwaves that carried their voices around the world. Here, you can explore the people, the songs, and the spirit that define this family’s place in American culture, honoring not just where they came from but where the music is still going.
