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If Trouble Don’t Kill Me

2019-05-18 14:00:00 2019-05-18 15:00:00 America/New_York If Trouble Don’t Kill Me Virginia author Ralph Berrier will present on his book, If Trouble Don’t Kill Me, which follows the lives on Berrier’s family from the mountains of Virginia to the Grand Ole Opry. James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room

Saturday, May 18
2:00pm - 3:00pm

Add to Calendar 2019-05-18 14:00:00 2019-05-18 15:00:00 America/New_York If Trouble Don’t Kill Me Virginia author Ralph Berrier will present on his book, If Trouble Don’t Kill Me, which follows the lives on Berrier’s family from the mountains of Virginia to the Grand Ole Opry. James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room

James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library

Beth Patridge Meeting Room

Virginia author Ralph Berrier will present on his book, If Trouble Don’t Kill Me, which follows the lives on Berrier’s family from the mountains of Virginia to the Grand Ole Opry.

Clayton and Saford Hall were born in the backwoods of Virginia in 1919, in a place known as The Hollow. Incredibly, they became legends in their day, rising from mountain-bred poverty to pickin’ and yodelin’ all over the airwaves of the South in the 1930s and 1940s, opening shows for the Carter Family, Roy Rogers, the Sons of the Pioneers, and even playing the most coveted stage of all: the Grand Ole Opry. They accomplished a lifetime’s worth of achievements in less than five years—and left behind only a few records to document their existence. 
 
Fortunately, Ralph Berrier, Jr., the grandson of Clayton Hall and a reporter for the Roanoke Times, brings us their full story for the first time in IF TROUBLE DON'T KILL ME. He documents how the twins’ music spread like wildfire when they moved from The Hollow to Roanoke at age twenty, and how their popularity was inflamed by their onstage zaniness, their roguish offstage shenanigans, and, above all, their ability to play old-time country music. 
 
But just as they arrived on the brink of major fame, World War II dashed their dreams. 

Berrier follows the Hall twins as they travel overseas, leaving behind their beloved music, and are thrust into the cauldron of a war that reshaped their lives and destinies. Through the brothers’ experiences, the story of World War II unfolds—Saford fought from the shores of North Africa to Sicily and Europe and finally into Germany; Clayton fought the Japanese in the brutal Pacific theater until the savage, final battle on Okinawa. They returned home after the war to find that the world had changed, music had changed . . . and they had, too.
 
IF TROUBLE DON'T KILL ME paints a loving portrait of a vanishing yet exalted southern culture, shows us the devastating consequences of war, and allows us to experience the mountain voices that not only influenced the history of music but that also shaped the landscape of America.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Author Talks | All Alexandria Reads |

TAGS: | local author | family | authors | all alexandria reads |

James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library

kpayne@alexlibraryva.org
Phone: 703.746.1705
Fax: 703.746.1785
Branch manager
Kayla Selsky

Hours
Mon, Jul 14 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Jul 15 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Jul 16 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Jul 17 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Jul 18 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Jul 19 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Jul 20 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Parking: There is a small lot with 9 spaces.  On street parking is available.

Public Transit:

  • Metrorail: Yellow and Blue lines at Braddock Road (1.3 miles) and King Street Stations (1.5 miles)
  • Metrobus: A11, A12
  • DASH Bus: 33

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact jgregorio@alexlibraryva.org or call 703.746.1701 or TTY 703.746.1790.

Upcoming Events

Cancelled
Sat, Jul 19, 10:30am - 11:30am
Stretch, breathe and cultivate your connections with body-heart-mind-spirit

Sun, Jul 20, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl and clap at Baby Time! Fingerplay and songs for Ages 0-14 Months.

Mon, Jul 21, 10:15am - 10:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl and clap at Baby Time! Fingerplay and songs for Ages 0-14 Months.

Mon, Jul 21, 11:15am - 11:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl and clap at Baby Time! Fingerplay and songs for Ages 0-14 Months.

Mon, Jul 21, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
We roll at dusk!

Mon, Jul 21, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Our mission is to provide a safe, supportive, non-judgmental environment where people can explore, learn, play, and evolve together - one breath at a time
This event is full

Tue, Jul 22, 10:15am - 11:00am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
You’ll be laughing out loud as nationally-known family entertainer Chris Fascione brings children’s stories to life with his high-spirited and innovative performances. (Ages 6-12)

Tue, Jul 22, 11:15am - 12:00pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
You’ll be laughing out loud as nationally-known family entertainer Chris Fascione brings children’s stories to life with his high-spirited and innovative performances. (Ages 6-12)

Tue, Jul 22, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Ongoing campaign. For inquiries about Dungeon and Dragons please contact Josstin Gogue at jgogue@alexlibraryva.org. (Ages 13-19)

Wed, Jul 23, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Draw, write, paint and create! Ages 6-12.

Wed, Jul 23, 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Drop in Conversational English language learning!

Thu, Jul 24, 10:15am - 10:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Come join Mr. Josstin for an adventure worth gathering for. You were there, remember? Great for toddlers and siblings. Ages 0-5

Thu, Jul 24, 11:15am - 11:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Come join Mr. Josstin for an adventure worth gathering for. You were there, remember? Great for toddlers and siblings. Ages 0-5

Thu, Jul 24, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Come make some crafts in the Duncan teen area!

Thu, Jul 24, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
All crafters are welcome! Ages 13+

Sat, Jul 26, 10:30am - 11:30am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Stretch, breathe and cultivate your connections with body-heart-mind-spirit
This event is full

Sat, Jul 26, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Join Oddball Cinema for of showing of the film!

Sun, Jul 27, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Bring your preschooler to the Duncan Library on Sunday afternoons to explore STEAM activities (science, technology, engineering, art, and math)! This is a drop-in event. Recommended ages 3-6

Mon, Jul 28, 10:15am - 10:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl and clap at Baby Time! Fingerplay and songs for Ages 0-14 Months.

Mon, Jul 28, 11:15am - 11:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl and clap at Baby Time! Fingerplay and songs for Ages 0-14 Months.

Mon, Jul 28, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
We roll at dusk!

Mon, Jul 28, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Our mission is to provide a safe, supportive, non-judgmental environment where people can explore, learn, play, and evolve together - one breath at a time
This event is full