FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2021

For More Information:
Glenville State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115

GLENVILLE, WV - Glenville State College (GSC) is now home to a treasure-trove of bluegrass and traditional country music material thanks to legendary Grand Ole Opry announcer, DJ, and musician, Eddie Stubbs.

Stubbs and his wife Debbie were on hand Monday, March 29 to ceremonially deliver the items to Glenville State’s Pioneer Stage. The collection includes records, posters, CDs, sheet music, books, furniture, memorabilia, over 15 years of radio shows from WAMU in Washington D.C., and more.

Stubbs began playing fiddle when he was just four years old and he says his collection of records began around the time he met his wife. “We knew something needed to be done for the long haul,” he said of preserving and archiving the items in his collection.

“I love music and bluegrass and traditional music has been a part of my life for my whole life and it’s still a great passion. I wanted to see this collection of artifacts find a home, because oftentimes in the history of music, it is learned in families and is passed down from one generation to another. In a way, this is a passing of the torch if you will, to another generation who can benefit from this collection,” Stubbs said.

Archival work for the documents and recordings is expected to take some time.

“One of the components of our Appalachian Studies program is bluegrass music, and that’s integral to West Virginia. Much of it started here and still thrives here,” said Glenville State College President, Dr. Mark A. Manchin. “To have this collection at hand for our students will be of tremendous educational and historical value.”

A legend in his own right, Stubbs served as fiddler for the Johnson Mountain Boys before hosting a bluegrass music radio show for a station in Maryland in the 80s. In 1995 he moved to Nashville to play fiddle as a band member for Kitty Wells. Shortly thereafter, he landed a DJ job with WSM – the most famed country music station in the world. Just two weeks later, he was hired as a regular announcer for the Grand Ole Opry. On July 29, 2020, Stubbs retired after 25 years of Opry hosting duties.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without our students, President Manchin, Eddie and Debbie Stubbs, Gus Arrendale of Springer Mountain Farms, Barry Blank, Dave Hutchison with the GSC Foundation, Nick Blake, Luke McKnight, and the donors and supporters of the program,” said GSC Assistant Professor of Music, Dr. Megan Darby.

“It’s sad to watch this stuff go,” Stubbs said. “But when you give away something you love and you know it’s going to the right place, it makes you feel good.”

The collection will be housed at the Pioneer Stage, which is located at 10 East Main Street in Downtown Glenville.