As a Nashville songwriter, Billy Edd Wheeler wrote one million-selling hit after another. Musicians like Johnny Cash, Elvis, the Jefferson Airplane and Neil Young recorded his songs.
He grew up in a tiny Boone County coal camp, high on a mountain, miles away from any other town. His town, Highcoal, was completely owned by a coal company. He learned to play guitar on a Sears Roebuck guitar his mother got him for Christmas for $14.
Billy Edd’s entertaining stories about his childhood open a rare window into coal camp life. He also published several books and wrote more than a dozen plays, including the Hatfields & McCoys outdoor drama.
Look at Billy Edd’s website – www.billyeddwheeler.com
Read stories about Billy Edd as a boy growing up in a coal camp. Click here.
Listen to Billy Edd Wheeler’s songs:
“Coal Tattoo” (lyrics)
As performed by Billy Edd Wheeler
As performed by Kathy Mattea
“Coward of the County” (lyrics)
As performed by Billy Edd Wheeler
For a version by Kenny Rogers click here.
“Red Winged Blackbird” (lyrics)
As performed by Kathy Mattea
“It’s Been a Long Time” (lyrics)
As performed by Michael Kline and Rich Kirby
“The Reverend Mr. Black” (lyrics)
As performed by Billy Edd Wheeler
To hear a version by The Kingston Trio click here.
“The Coming of the Roads” (lyrics)
As performed by Billy Edd Wheeler
As performed by Mary Hopkins
“Ode to the Little Brown Shack out Back” (lyrics)
As performed by Billy Edd Wheeler
“High Flying Bird”
To hear Richie Havens’s version of “High Flying Bird” click here.
For a version by the Jefferson Airplane, click here.
Watch an interview with Billy Edd Wheeler
Billy Edd interview – Part 2
Look at Billy Edd’s paintings – www.billyeddwheeler.com/paintings.htm
Billy Edd writes plays too! www.billyeddwheeler.com/other.htm
For teachers: Here are some ways to use Billy Edd stories and songs in class.
Want to read stories about these artists when they were West Virginia schoolchildren? Want to hear their music? Just click on their pictures.
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