Kaitlyn Baker's 'Heart of Appalachia' is New Theme Song for Southwest Virginia

Country singer Kaitlyn Baker is doing her part to boost tourism in Southwestern Virginia, a corner of the state that has experienced an economic downturn in recent years, due to job losses in the coal industry. The Wise County native's new song "Heart of Appalachia" has been designated the official theme song of the Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority, a nonprofit organization that promotes tourism.

"Southwest Virginia has lost about 11,000 coal jobs in the past couple of years," Baker said. "I hope 'Heart of Appalachia' will encourage more tourism, which could help the local economy. This area spectacular scenery and there's so much to do."

"Heart of Appalachia" pays tribute to the region's natural beauty and rich cultural heritage: "Where talk is slow and the mountains are tall and the cool Clinch River runs through it all... Southwestern Virginia, where the air is full of bluegrass mountain songs, Southwestern Virginia...let the Heart of Appalachia call you home."

An accompanying music video was filmed at locations including high mountain overlooks, Back of the Dragon (a popular motorcycle route), a pioneer museum village, ATV trails, heritage music sites, waterfalls and more. The video is being shown on Heart of Appalachia's website (www.HeartOfAppalachia.com) and can be viewed below:

Baker wrote "Heart of Appalachia" with songwriter Scott Arnold, who produced the music track. Bluegrass and country music legend Larry Cordle ("Murder on Music Row," "Highway 40 Blues") produced the vocals and sings background, along with Roanoke, Virginia native Val Storey, a prolific Nashville singer. Cordle appears briefly in the music video, singing with Baker at the Ralph Stanley Bluegrass Festival. Ralph Stanley II also makes a cameo appearance.

"I am honored that Larry Cordle and Val Storey were willing to help with this project," Baker said. "I grew up listening to Larry's music, and never dreamed that I would record with him. I am also grateful to Ralph II for appearing in the video. Nobody is better known for mountain music in Southwest Virginia than the Ralph Stanley family."

"The roots of bluegrass and country music run deep in the mountains of the Heart of Appalachia Region," said Kitty Barker, executive director of the Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority. "Kaitlyn Baker is an example of the talent that is born and raised in these rugged mountains of Virginia. Her talent is a blessing to the region, and her generosity to give back to her home area is admirable."

"Heart of Appalachia" is available on iTunes, Amazon and other digital music outlets.

Kaitlyn Baker's upcoming concert tour includes Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City (June 15), The ViewHouse in Centennial, Colorado, in association with KYGO (June 16), Country Jam Colorado (June 17), the Centennial Rodeo Opry in Oklahoma City (June 18), Mountain Village 1890 in Bull Shoals, Arkansas (June 19), Blast at the Overpass in Richmond, Indiana (June 25) and the Rogersville, Tennessee 4th of July Celebration.

Information about Kaitlyn Baker is available at www.KaitlynBaker.com. Information about Heart of Appalachia tourism is available at www.HeartOfAppalachia.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.