JERRY HARMON
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN STORYTELLER
Traditional Appalachian Storytelling • Jack Tales • International Performances
The Storytelling Tradition
Born in the Appalachian Mountains Jerry Harmon carries forward one of the oldest storytelling traditions in the Appalachian Mountains.
He is a direct descendant of Council Harmon, the mountain storyteller credited with bringing the ancient European Jack Tales to the Southern Appalachians more than two hundred years ago.
Today, Jerry stands among the last living members of the historic Harmon–Hicks storytelling lineage, a tradition passed down through generations in the mountains of North Carolina.
Blending traditional Appalachian storytelling with mountain humor and music, his performances bring these timeless tales to life for modern audiences.
Jerry’s work has been presented at festivals, theaters, schools, and cultural programs throughout the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
His programs adapt naturally to a wide range of audiences, from schools and libraries to evening storytelling performances for adult audiences at festivals and cultural events.
Jerry Harmon has shared Appalachian storytelling and music on stages across the United States and internationally,
appearing at festivals, theaters, and cultural programs dedicated to traditional arts and storytelling.
• Listowel International Writers’ Week — Ireland
• International Bath Festival — Bath, England
• Winnipeg International Writers Festival — Canada
• MerleFest — North Carolina, USA
• The Ark Storytelling Series — Ann Arbor, Michigan (with nationally recognized storytellers including Milbre Burch)
• Children’s Book Festival — Ireland
• Storytelling performances in Germany and Switzerland
• Appalachian cultural and heritage festivals across the United States
• Schools, libraries, and community programs throughout the U.S.,Canada,U.K.,Ireland,and mainland Europe
From intimate storytelling rooms to international festival stages, Jerry Harmon continues to carry the voice of
Appalachian tradition to audiences around the world.
Booking & Contact
Jerry Harmon is available for festivals, schools, libraries, theaters, and cultural events throughout the United States and internationally. Whether you are planning a storytelling festival, educational program, or an evening performance, Jerry brings an authentic Appalachian voice and a lifetime of tradition to every stage. To inquire about availability and bookings, please use the contact page or reach out directly. Carry the voice of Appalachian tradition into your next event.
Live Festival Performances & Storytelling
These videos offer a glimpse into Jerry Harmon’s work as an Appalachian storyteller and musician. Drawing from the ancient Jack Tale tradition of the Southern mountains, Jerry’s performances blend storytelling, humor, and music to bring Appalachian culture and heritage to audiences around the world.
BOOK JERRY HARMON
Born into a deep Appalachian musical tradition in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Jerry Harmon grew up surrounded by the sounds of mountain music and storytelling. One of his earliest musical memories is strumming a homemade banjo built by his Uncle Gene, while radio broadcasts of Hank Williams Sr., Flatt & Scruggs, and Ray Price filled the family home and shaped his lifelong love of authentic American music.
By age twelve, armed with a Sears & Roebuck Truetone guitar and a determination to learn, Jerry began teaching himself to play using a lesson book by North Carolina guitar legend Arthur Smith. Those early years of listening, learning, and performing planted the seeds for a lifetime devoted to music and storytelling.
Press Recognition
• Featured in Country Music Magazine (UK)
• Named among the publication’s Best Albums of the Year
• Featured in Maverick Magazine (UK)
• National television feature while performing in Ireland
• Appearances on A&E programming
• Coverage in newspapers and publications in the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdom
Over the decades, Jerry’s path has taken him across the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada, performing at festivals, cultural events, theaters, and concert halls. Along the way he became known not only for his music, but also for preserving the traditional storytelling of the Appalachian Mountains.
Today audiences know him as “The Smoky Mountain Storyteller,” a performer who blends Appalachian storytelling, traditional music, humor, and heartfelt songs into a uniquely American performance. Now based in Kemah, Texas, Jerry continues to bring his signature blend of Americana, country, folk, and mountain storytelling to festivals, theaters, private events, and waterfront venues along the Gulf Coast.
His studio album Walk Softly, named among the Best Albums of the Year by Country Music Magazine (UK), pairs Jerry with acclaimed producer Pat Holt (Dr. Hook, Keith Bryant, Darlene Austin). The album bridges classic country songwriting with a modern edge, while the fan-favorite track “Grandmas Are Sexy Too” delivers Jerry’s trademark blend of humor and heart. Jerry Harmon is currently booking live performances in Kemah, Texas and throughout the Greater Houston and Gulf Coast region, offering audiences a memorable evening of authentic Appalachian storytelling and American roots music.