issue 36 working_Layout 1 10/2/2013 10:46 PM Page 36
Garret K. Woodward
Finding inspiration in Appalachia ....
A Southern Perspective on music, art, and life from the Carolina’s
Standing in an empty field, Martin
Cook has a vision.
Founder of renowned Western North Carolina gospel group
The Inspirations, Cook looks
around the band’s 29-acre property (dubbed “Inspiration Park”)
just east of Bryson City. The
beauty and grandeur spills far and
wide, and that’s just the backdrop
he enjoys sharing each summer
during their “Singing In The Smokies” festival.
Coming into their 50th year,
the ensemble has performed
across the globe, garnering a following as large as it is loyal. And
at the center of it is Cook, who
started the act from humble beginnings as a teacher. He and members of the community, including
his students, would get together
on his front porch and sing. There
was magic in the collaboration,
one which finally took the stage
for the first time those many years
ago.
Thousands of performances
later, The Inspirations are going as
strong as ever. Though Cook recently turned 77-years-old, don’t let
that number fool you. He’s as active
and ready to play as folks half his
age. He spoke of the his love of
Southern Ap palachia, why music is
important to share with others, and
how that incredible feeling of getting up onstage every night never
seems to waver.
Garret K. Woodward: Where did
your life with music begin?
Martin Cook: Well, it was in my
family. My father was the singing
leader in the community. Singing
was one of the things you did in the
home. You didn’t have all the different entertainment centers we all
have today, so what the people did
we’d gather ‘round and sing. A lot of
conversation went on the mountains here, in those days. They’d
spend a whole day just talkin’ about
where they lived and their families.
And, we’ve lost a lot about that in
our mountain culture. Hardly anyone knows where
they’re from anymore.
GKW: You’ve lived a pretty varied
life.
MC: I’ve done quite a few things in
my life. I’ve done military service,
was a park ranger in the Great
Smokies, a schoolteacher at the
high school in Bryson City. When I
got out of college, I got married to
the cute girl next door. She was
the prettiest thing I’d ever seen,
and when I got back from Korea,
we were married. I came to Swain
County to teach chemistry and
physics. People from the community would come sing at my house,
and some of the students from my
classes would come over and sing,
too. Those students sang longer
and worked harder, and that became The Inspirations.
GKW: What’s it like these days?
MC: We try to do around 140
shows a year, but that’s about all
we can do and still enjoy it. It’s like
a heartbeat. If you go away from
home too much you get tired. It’s a
calling. You’re helping people. It’s
amazing to get those phone calls
and letters about how a song
made a difference in their lives.
GKW: How would you describe
gospel music?
MC: Gospel music, at first, is a
good gospel message. It has certain rhythm and chord patterns that
most people will like, whether they
go to church or not. We’ve