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Finale: Blind Alfred Reed's Lament For the special taping of Mountain Stage in Bristol, Va./Tenn., musical guests Dierks Bentley, Vieux Farka Toure, Joe Ely, Kelly Willis and Roger Rasnake take on a local legend's most famous tune for their joint final number.

Concerts

Finale: Blind Alfred Reed's Lament

Listen Now: Brooke Miller On Mountain Stage

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Guest artists on stage (L-R): Vieux Farka Toure, Kelly Willis, Dierks Bentley, Joe Ely, Roger Rasnake with host Larry Groce. Brian Blauser hide caption

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Brian Blauser

For the special taping of Mountain Stage in Bristol, Va./Tenn., host Larry Groce chose to lead the finale performance in a number by songwriter/fiddler Blind Alfred Reed. A native of Floyd, Va. and a longtime W.Va. resident, Reed participated in the first country music recording sessions, held in Bristol in 1927.

Thanks in large part to recorded versions by Ry Cooder and The New Lost City Ramblers, Reed's most renowned work was "How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live," a topical number for the ages. Guest artists Dierks Bentley, Vieux Farka Toure, Joe Ely, Kelly Willis and Roger Rasnake make appearances, as do musicians from their respective groups.