Music and Arts Scene Flourish in Fountain, North Carolina
In a quaint corner of North Carolina, the town of Fountain is experiencing a cultural revival centered around music and the arts. For years, the R.A. Fountain General Store has been a hub for weekly concerts, hosting both local musicians and touring bands like Ohio’s “My Brother’s Keeper.” This tradition has turned the town of 400 people, located between Wilson and Greenville, into a unique musical destination.
The historic R.A. Fountain General Store, a century-old building, provides a nostalgic backdrop for these performances. Alex Albright and his wife Elizabeth have preserved its charm, creating an inviting space where old store shelves are now stocked with books and antiques. During intermissions, concert-goers indulge in fresh-squeezed orangeade and ice cream from a local creamery, seated on vintage church pews.
Beyond the general store, Freeman Vines, an 82-year-old artisan, has established his guitar-making workshop in a nearby old drugstore. Vines crafts unique guitars from reclaimed wood, celebrated for their distinct sound. “We were using old wood that had been here for years, rained on, peed on,” he said. “It had a different tone than the commercially processed wood, a different tone.”
Vines’ relocation to this downtown space was facilitated by the Music Maker Relief Foundation, which is spearheaded by Tim Duffy. The foundation supports aging musicians, helping with essentials like rent, medicine, and career development. Duffy says, “Music Maker Foundation has been going since 1994 to help musicians help themselves, keep music alive and keep southern musical traditions.”
In Fountain, Music Maker has expanded its efforts, purchasing additional storefronts for a recording and photography studio. The mission is to provide bands and musicians in eastern North Carolina with accessible facilities to create albums and promotional materials. These developments are funded by donors nationwide, with some assistance from the North Carolina Arts Council.
Jeff Bell, executive director of the Arts Council, emphasized their commitment to investing in all 100 counties of North Carolina. “One of the things North Carolina is really known for, as far as the state arts agency, is our investment in all 100 counties,” he noted.
Alice Vines, a gospel singer and sister to Freeman, also collaborates with Music Maker, helping organize recording sessions. Her group, the Glorifying Vines Sisters, has benefited from the nonprofit’s support, allowing them to continue performing and touring.
The ongoing success of the R.A. Fountain General Store concerts and Music Maker’s new facilities demonstrate the transformative power of music and the arts in small communities.
Inside the Music Maker Studios
WUNC interviewed Tim Duffy and Alex Albright about their roles in Fountain’s musical resurgence. Albright shared the accidental evolution of the R.A. Fountain General Store into a music venue, attributing it to the building’s excellent acoustics and community interest.
Despite Fountain’s small size, Albright said the venue attracts performers and audiences alike, though the turnout can vary. “Sometimes there’s a big crowd… But we’ve had some great shows with eight people in the audience,” he mentioned.
Duffy highlighted Fountain’s cultural significance, noting its rich musical heritage. “Because Fountain is like one of the great cradles of African American musical experience in the world. It’s where gospel music was created,” he said.
Both Duffy and Albright agree that the atmosphere in Fountain provides a unique appeal, drawing musicians from afar who treasure the experience reminiscent of historical music scenes like Muscle Shoals in the ‘60s.
Listen to the full podcast episode here. And find WUNC on the radio in Fountain and Pitt County at 90.9 FM.
