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MHM Founder Joe Shannon Passes Away Tuesday

Joe Shannon - Photo by Lonnie Webster
Joe Shannon – Photos by Lonnie Webster

By Jesse Wood

May 13, 2014. Joe Shannon, founder of Mountain Home Music, passed away Tuesday morning in Florida.

Shannon had been battling cancer since 2012 and stepped down as executive director of Mountain Home Music in December as his condition deteriorated. An educator and musician, Shannon was a beloved member of the High Country.

Before he left for Florida in March to spend his remaining days with family, Shannon was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Gov. Pat McCrory, and the Town of Boone adopted a resolution recognizing Shannon for enriching the community and preserving the cultural heritage of Appalachia.  In an interview in January, Shannon said that he started the music concert series, which is now in its 20th year, to honor the local styles of music and showcase the many, many talented yet relatively unknown musicians in the region.

Shannon received a rousing ovation during a Mountain Home Music Concert in March as he was wheeled into the concert hall in Blowing Rock.

“[And then there was] just a spontaneous roar. It was like Nelson Mandela entered the room. A tremendous feeling of love and inspiration swept over everybody,” MHM Board Member David Finck said, acknowledging the impact Shannon, a career educator, has had on the community.

A friend of Shannon’s said that a memorial service will take place in a couple weeks in Florida – as well as a ‘Celebration of Life’ at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Boone. For more info on Shannon, click to the following articles and scroll through the photos below.

March 19, 2014: MHM Founder Joe Shannon Recognized by Boone for Enriching Community, Preserving Cultural Heritage

March 18, 2014: Mix of Emotions at Farewell for Mountain Home Music’s Joe Shannon, Honored at St. Patrick’s Day Concert

March 10, 2014: Shannon Awarded Order of the Long Leaf Pine 

Jan. 23, 2014: Mountain Home Music Board Begins Transition To Continue Without Founder Joe Shannon

Dec. 3, 2014: Joe Shannon Recognized with the Appalachian Cultural Enrichment Award Nov. 30

 

Dacey Haney & Company with Special Guest Nea; Hellman
Shannon plays harmonica – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Whitetop Mountain Band
Joe Shannon plays the banjo. Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

An Appalachian Christmas
A former student of Shannon’s at ASU stitched his poem 20 years ago, and Shannon saw it for the first time at the last Mountain Home Music concert of 2013.

 

Banjo Jubilee and Mountain Home Music
Shannon with his sister and mother. Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Ireland
Shannon plays the accordion. Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Joe Shannon and Peggy
Joe Shannon and his sister Peggy on Achill Island in County Mayo Ireland. Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Ireland
Joe plays the accordion. Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Joe_Shannon-0130-2
Shannon in black and white.

 

Dacey Haney & Company with Special Guest Nea; Hellman
Shannon – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Ireland
Shannon – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Mountain Home Music Anual Picnic at Ned's Trivettes
Shannon – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

North Carolina Balladeer Sheila Kay Adams on Mountain Home Music Show
Shannon – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

North Carolina Balladeer Sheila Kay Adams on Mountain Home Music Show
Shannon – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

A Quilter's Song with the Sheets Family & Mary Greene
Shannon – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

A Bluegrass Musical Review with Dave Haney
Shannon – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

An Appalachian Christmas
Shannon at the last MHM concert in December 2013 – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Joe_Shannon-6787
Shannon – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Joe_Shannon-6855
Shannon – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

April Verch snd The April Verch Band plus Scott Freeman on Mountain Home Music Show
Shannon – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Ireland
Shannon – Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Mountain Home Music Blue Grass and Brass with The Mountain Home Music Bluegrass Boys and The King Street Brass
Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Mountain Home Music Anual Picnic at Ned's Trivettes
Photo by Lonnie Webster

 

Al Petteway and Amy White Play the Mountain Home Music Show
Joe Shannon was awarded the Appalachian Cultural Enrichment Award recently. Photo by Lonnie Webster

Here are photos from farewell concert in March:

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One of many hugs Shannon received on Sunday.

 

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There probably wasn’t a dry eye at the St. Patrick’s Day concert.

 

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Those that attended said Shannon was the most upbeat of the bunch.

 

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This was given to Shannon, signed by many friends.

 

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Maura Shawn Scanlin from the The Forget-Me-Nots. Scanlin wrote and played a song composed especially for Joe.

 

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More than 200 people packed BRAHM on Sunday.

 

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Third from right is Shannon, who is holding up his recent award, Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

 

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Third from right is Shannon.

 

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Third from right is Shannon.

 

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Those who attended said Shannon was the most upbeat of the bunch.

 

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MHM Chair Ada Webster said Shannon was jovial on Sunday.

 

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Shannon speaks to Mary Greene, fellow musician and long-time friend.

 

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Shannon gets another hug from David Johnson

 

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Shannon and Johnson

 

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Shannon and Johnson

 

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Steve Lewis (right) with Joe Shannon after the show.
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Strictly Clean and Decent performs on Sunday.

 

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Mountain Home Bluegrass Boys perform at St. Patrick’s Day concert.

 

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The music was great as usual at Mountain Home Music’s Sunday concert.