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Arkansas is a Southern state of the United States. Arkansas' musical heritage includes country music and various related styles like bluegrass and rockabilly. Traditional folk instruments include the fiddle and banjo as well as guitar, mandolin, dulcimer and autoharp. Among its most prominent modern musical manifestations is Riverfest, a music festival held in North Little Rock, which has been held annually since 1978. The town of Mountain View bills itself as the "Folk Music Capital of the World". There is an Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame, which includes musicians like Ronnie Dunn, Melvin Endsley, Al Green and Jimmy Driftwood.
The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1966. When the orchestra was founded, a local bank held the organization responsible for the debts of previous attempts at organizing an orchestra. Ten individual members assumed responsibility for the debt, and so the orchestra was formed, led by experienced conductor Vasilios Priakos.
The state's local music scene includes bands like Faulkner, from Conway, who are no longer performing together, The Loiterers and Soophie Nun Squad.
State songs
Arkansas has four official state songs:
- State Anthem: "Arkansas" by Mrs. Eva Ware Barnett (Go)
- State Historical Song: "The Arkansas Traveler" by Colonel Sanford C. Faulkner (Go)
- State Song: "Oh, Arkansas" by Terry Rose and Gary Klaff (Go)
- State Song: "Arkansas (You Run Deep In Me)" by Wayland Holyfield (Go)
The reason there are two official state songs is due to a copyright dispute. "Arkansas" was published in 1916 by the Central Music Company, written by Eva Ware Barnett and Will M. Ramsey. It became the official song on January 12, 1917. Until either 1945 or 1949, "Arkansas" was the only official song in Arkansas. At that time, there was a copyright dispute and the state adopted "The Arkansas Traveler" as the official song, a situation that remained unchanged until 1963. In that year, "Arkansas (You Run Deep in Me)" was designated an additional state song, and the copyright dispute was resolved and "Arkansas" became official again, until 1987, when it was changed to the official state anthem. In that year, "Oh, Arkansas" was officially designated a state song as well and "The Arkansas Traveller" was designated the official state historical song.
Musicians
Musicians from Arkansas include:
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