The Kings Mountain Herald
August 12, 2004 *
Dr. Susan Neisler Smith and Lee University in 2000.
has joined Dr. G.K. Howard Dr. Smith graduated from
Jr. in his Kings Mountain the University of North
dental practice. Carolina School of Dentistry
Dr. Smith, a native of in May and joined Dr.
Kings Mountain, is the
daughter of Reginald Lane
Howard's practice in June.
Dr. Smith is engaged to be
Smith of Myrtle Beach, SC married to dental school
and the late Sue Hunnicutt classmate Dr. Benjamin
Smith. Aaron Thompson of
Dr. Smith attended Kings = Gastonia in November.
Mountain High School, :
graduated from North Dr. Howard and staff will
Carolina School of Science host a Patient Appreciation
and Mathematics in 1996, Night Friday, August 20
and received a B.S. in
Chemistry from Washington
from 6-9 p.m. at which time
DR. SUSAN SMITH patients can meet Dr. Smith.
The Buchanan quads, children of Tim and Carol Buchanan of
Kings Mountain, enjoyed eating watermelon on a recent hot day.
in photo at top are Carson and Calen. Bottom left is Maggie, and
; bottom right is Mallory.
SEND US YOUR CHILD’S PHOTO
Share your children’s pictures for Kids Corner. It can be lof birthday
parties, fun at the park or other special events. Bring them by The
Herald at 824 E. King St. or e-mail them to kmhnews @aol.com. They
must be identified and include parents’ names and phone number.
a
GARY STEWART / HERALD
Country singer and WKMT disc jockey Jim Arp has been inducted into the Rockabilly Hall
of Fame.
Jim Arp inducted into
Rockabilly Hall of Fame
BY JIM HEFFNER
Staff Writer
“Spins and needles” is how Jim: Arp
describes his job as a disc jockey at WKMT-
AM in Kings Mountain.
Arp, a Belmont resident with friends and
relatives ‘all around the area, has been a
mainstay at the station for 35 years.
He has recently been honored with
induction into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in
Burns, Tennessee.
A native of Blue Ridge, Georgia, Arp’s
family moved to this area when he was a
small child. He has been involved, one way
or another, in the music business all his life.
An Elvis look alike as a young man, Arp
played the country music circuit for several
years, He performed as the lead singer for
several groups, and as a solo as well.
“I came from a musical family,” he said.
“There was always some kind of music
around the house.”
From his first harmonica, Arp moved on
to the guitar, and then vocals. He grew up
during the rock and roll boom of the 50s and
was an active participant.
“I've tried most of the entertainment out-.
lets,” he said. “I've written for a chain of
newspapers, wrote science fiction and fanta-
sy stories, a couple of books, many songs and
poems and 20 to 30 of those songs have been
published.”
Arp has written two books on Hank
Williams and was friendly with Williams’ sis-
ter Irene until her death a few years ago.
He has also opened shows for artists such
as Carl Perkins, the Royal Teens, Jerry Lee
Lewis, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. Arp
traveled for several years with the Del Rays
as their lead singer.
Music, during the first years of the 1950s
was evolving. The big bands were beginning
to fade and the coming entertainment medi-
um was TV. Country music was making
inroads into the public vista, and rock was
emerging.
The two genres began to meld together as
people such as Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson,
Ferlin Huskey, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash
and others produced music utilizing both
styles. Country songs began to hit the pop
charts and vice versa. Somebody, during that
period of time came up with the name
Rockabilly, and the label stuck.
Rockabilly has been described as the
Memphis sound because of Sun Records, an
independent company that recorded Presley,
Cash, Perkins and Lewis in their early years.
It’s really edgy, countrified rock sounds with
hard driving guitar chords.
It is one of the purest forms of American
roots music, and most of it was written by
people such as Arp. Wherever they found
themselves they picked their guitars, experi-
menting with different sounds and chord
progressions and jotted down lyrics on any-
thing they could find.
Arp has written so many songs he can’t
recall them all. Several different artists have
recorded his music, including Narvel Felts,
James Williamson and Frank Anthony, all
well-known in the world of rockabilly.
During his years of performing, Arp,
sometime called “Little Lonely” because of
his resemblance to Presley, became extremely
popular in Europe. Some of his recordings
were high on the charts overseas for several
years. One of his most popular recordings
was a tune called “Not Too Young,” penned
by Carroll Ludwick.
A new generation of young musicians
has discovered rockabilly in recent years, and
are playing the music in small venues all
over the country. The music has remained
popular in Europe, and Arp’s CDs still sell.
Even though WKMT ownership changed
hands recently, Arp will remain on the 12-6
p.m. shift. He continues to write music, sto-
ries and poetry.
Anyone can contact him and purchase
one of his CDs by writing him at 710 Ann St.
in Belmont.
‘Arp has a special page on the Rockabilly
web site at www.rockabilly.com.
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From 1A
vote Christian, then we will continue down
the slippery moral slope to judgment.
But what if 50 percent vote? Then that 50
percent will rule America. And if the 50 per-
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cent vote Christian, we can return America
to bedrock Christian values. If the 50 per-
cent do not vote Christian, then we will con-
tinue down the slippery moral slope to
judgment.
(Chip Sloan is pastor of First Baptist
Church, Kings Mountain).
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