Tony Ellis of Circleville is a banjo player of astounding skill and innovation and a legend among people who know bluegrass and old-time country music. Philip Paul, session musician at the King studios. Katie Laur, a bluegrass musician from Cincinnati, was born into a musical family that migrated to Detroit from the hills of Tennessee.
Edwin George, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokees, paints stories of the Cherokee culture. Doug Unger has earned international renown both as an instrument builder and a master of the arts of decorative inlay and pearl engraving. Carolyn Mazloomi of West Chester, Ohio is a strong and effective advocate for the entire community of African American quilters.
Kenny Sidle has lived in Licking County, playing a fiddle in and around eastern Ohio, the Midwest and even Canada. Anupama R. Mirle and has been involved in performing and teaching Bharatha Natyam to students of all ethnic groups. Sogbety Diomande has been drumming since his early teens, playing the traditional drum music of the West African region in which he was raised.
Rick Good of Spring Valley has journeyed from performing old time songs with his relatives to a key role in one of the finest string bands in America. Wallace Coleman of Cleveland is a master of the Chicago school of blues harp who sounds like he just stepped off a 1950s Chess record.Yasue Sakaoka believes that the art and culture of Japan and the art of origami are to be shared with the world.
Baba Jubal Harris of South Euclid (Cuyahoga County) has been using his knowledge of African music and culture to inspire children. Weichih Rosa Lee of Cleveland has been playing the Guzheng, or Chinese Zither, since she was a child. Kanniks Kannikeswaran (Hamilton County) is a prolific composer and the pioneer of the Indian American choral music movement.
The Traditions series features Ohio artists who practice folk and traditional arts and have become masters of their craft. In this episode meet Ashland artist Barry Wheeler, a blacksmith who puts a whimsical spin on metal sculptures; Westlake resident Hasu Patel, one of very few female Indian classical music sitar performers; and Cleveland musician and African drummer Linda Thomas Jones.
The Traditions series features Ohio artists who practice folk and traditional arts and have become masters of their craft. In this episode meet New Lebanon artist Roy Adams, a blacksmith who teachers classes on topics from ornamental iron flowers to wrought iron hammers; The Riley School of Irish Music in Cincinnati; and Toledo's Mexican folkloric dancer Elaina Hernandez.