Johnson County has deep roots in old-time and bluegrass music. Fiddles and banjos were part of everyday life in these mountains, and in 1925 Mountain City hosted a gathering that is still remembered as a landmark in the history of Appalachian music.
The 1925 Mountain City Fiddlers Convention
In May 1925, Mountain City hosted its first Fiddlers Convention. Dozens of fiddlers came to compete, including some of the best-known musicians of the day, among them Fiddlin’ John Carson, G. B. Grayson, Charlie Bowman and Al Hopkins. The Town of Mountain City describes it as “a landmark event in the modern history of Appalachian music.”
The convention also made music history in another way: it was there that fiddler Charlie Bowman met Al Hopkins, who invited him to join his band, the Hill Billies.
In 2025 the region marked the convention’s 100th anniversary, and a historical marker now tells its story.
The Musical Heritage Mural Mile
Today, Mountain City celebrates its musical roots with the Musical Heritage Mural Mile, a series of murals you can explore on foot downtown. Find more ideas on our Things to Do page.
Do you have family stories, old photographs or corrections to share about Mountain City’s history? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us.