A Legend in Overalls:
Storytelling in the Footsteps
of Ray Hicks
“That afternoon that changed my life . . . and the course of storytelling in the United States and beyond.”
This one hour performance holds the stories of Ray Hicks, a national treasure and a traditional mountain storyteller along with Connie Regan-Blake’s personal journey – and the birth and unfolding of the storytelling revival in America and beyond!
- Oh Connie, your tribute to Ray Hicks was the absolute pinnacle of our Florida Storytelling festival. You just so beautifully wove together his story, your story, the story of the national festival and in the story of the storytelling Renaissance. It was so moving so poignant and so well crafted. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for sharing that with us all. – Kaye Byrnes, FL
- From years of a deep friendship, Connie Regan-Blake brings a true understanding of this legendary storyteller, and shows how Ray’s body of work has become a pillar of the modern storytelling renaissance.
– Tom Raymond, TN - Just watched the performance of your story about Ray Hicks! What an amazing, sensitive, inspiring work!! Thank you so, so much! Your program went beyond just reminiscing, and guided us to deep, universal wisdom. I listened to Ray once in Jonesborough a long time ago. I wish I had gotten to know him better, but having listened to you I feel I know so much!! I firmly believe in the importance of paying homage to our forebearers in our art form, and I truly appreciate your generosity and hard work taking on this massive task.
– Motoko, MA professional storyteller
- I never had the pleasure of seeing/hearing Ray Hicks live! Connie Regan-Blake’s words paint such a wonderful picture of Ray as a son, husband, father and storyteller. She captures the essence of the man who is remembered as the heart and soul of the revitalization of storytelling in America and the world. – Stas’ Ziolkowski, WV
Contact Connie today to find out how to bring this celebration of stories, storytelling and Ray Hicks to your community!
Connie shares stories of Ray’s life and how he came down from the mountains, bearing old-world gifts to enrich modern lives beyond measure. Hear how Ray became the face of traditional Appalachian mountain storytelling intertwined with Connie’s own storytelling journey and personal reflections on her deep friendship with the Hicks family.
Contact Connie today to find out how to bring this celebration of stories about Ray Hicks to your community!
“We have been looking up to him from the beginning . . . the lanky 6’ 7’’ man of the mountains, who came bearing old-world gifts of stories and wisdom that have enriched modern lives beyond measure.”
Connie first met Ray and Rosa Hicks in 1973. She and her first cousin, Barbara Freeman who was her storytelling partner at the time, often visited them at the Hicks’ homeplace on Beech Mountain. And always Connie was listening to Ray tell stories. He became her teacher and mentor. They grew to be family. Their youngest son, Ted once said Connie was a “sister of the heart!”
