Ola Belle Reed

American Appalachians Folk and Bluegrass singer, songwriter and banjo player

Born August 17, 1916 in Grassy Creek, North Carolina, USA, died August 16, 2002 in Rising Sun, Maryland, USA

Ola Belle Reed was born in Ashe County, North Carolina. With her brother, [a=Alex Campbell (3)], and her husband, [a=Bud Reed], she went on to establish the New River Ranch in Maryland, and Sunset Park in Pennsylvania, popular country and mountain music venues catering to fellow displaced mountaineers. During the 1960's, she became known in the folk revival for her strong voice and clawhammer banjo playing, as well as her original song writing, which drew on both her traditional background and her string ideals. "I've Endured" and "High on a Mountain" have become standards in bluegrass and Americana music. She was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship in 1986.