Program

Legends & Lore®

Subject

Arts & Culture, Folklore, People

Location

600 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604, USA

Lat/Long

36.188574, -81.872317

Grant Recipient

Beech Mountain Historical Society

Ray Hicks was born the mountains of North Carolina, in a house without any electricity or modern comforts. It’s here that he also lived and shared his magical stories, the “Jack tales,” which would become a staple of American folklore. In fact, the beautiful Beech Mountain served as both his home and the backdrop for his enchanting tales.

If you’ve ever heard of “Jack and the Beanstalk” or “Jack and the Giant Killer,” then you are familiar with some of the Jack tales, where a young Jack outsmarts giants and dragons. What made Ray’s stories extra special was his performance, including deep Appalachian accent and animated delivery. When he told a tale, the listeners felt like they were right there, adventuring with Jack.

Though Ray Hicks lived much of his life in poverty, he did not live in obscurity. His talents were recognized worldwide. He received the National Heritage Fellowship and the North Carolina Heritage Award and starred at the National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee. Magazines like The New Yorker and National Geographic wrote about him, and filmmakers made documentaries to capture his enchanted storytelling style. Ray Hicks wasn’t just telling fairy tales. He was sharing pieces of Appalachian culture, rich words of tradition performed by a magical mountain storyteller.