Music and stories are inherent in Appalachian culture and have been handed down for generations. A seventh generation Appalachian, Sheila Kay Adams will bring tears of laughter as she shares family anecdotes, beautiful ballads, and music, providing a glimpse into the culture of mountain people.

Sheila says she is "maintaining the tradition" of seven generations who have passed down the English, Scottish, and Irish ballads that were first heard in America in the 1700s. An accomplished banjo player, Sheila has recorded two tapes (along with husband, Jim) featuring traditional ballads, banjo tunes, and her own compositions. Under the direction of noted novelist Lee Smith, Sheila compiled a collection of stories about her growing up years called Come Go Home With Me, which won the North Carolina Historical Society's Award for Historical Fiction in 1997.

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