GRAMMY NOMINATED ● WRITERS WEEKEND PERFORMER
ABOUT JERRY HARMON, THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN STORYTELLER AND INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN
Jerry Harmon is a Smoky Mountain storyteller, Appalachian musician, and international touring performer whose work brings the rich musical traditions, folklore, and storytelling heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains to audiences across Texas, the United States, and around the world.
Rooted in the oral traditions of Appalachia, Jerry’s performances weave together traditional Appalachian music, old-time mountain songs, folk music, and classic Jack Tales with the history, humor, and cultural stories of the Southern mountains.
His storytelling offers audiences a glimpse into the people, places, traditions, and legends that shaped Appalachian mountain culture and continue to influence American folk music today. For decades, Jerry has shared these Appalachian stories and musical traditions on stages across the United States and internationally. He has performed at major festivals and alongside legendary musicians, earning a reputation for authentic, engaging performances that connect audiences to the history and living traditions of the Appalachian Mountains.
Now bringing his Smoky Mountain storytelling and Appalachian musical heritage to Texas audiences, Jerry Harmon offers a distinctive live performance that combines traditional music, Southern mountain folklore, historical storytelling, and the enduring art of the Appalachian storyteller.
MUSIC
"West Bound Train" by Jerry Harmon
"Rocky Top" by Jerry Harmon
"Man I Used To Be" by Jerry Harmon
"Got To Go Down There" by Jerry Harmon
"Walking to Cleveland" by Jerry Harmon
STORYTELLING
"The Computer Genius" by Jerry Harmon
"Uncle Gene in the River" by Jerry Harmon
"Big Jack and Little Jack" by Jerry Harmon
"Uncle Gene and the Cowboy Boots" by Jerry Harmon
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.
INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCES & FESTIVALS
Jerry Harmon has performed across the United States and internationally, appearing at major festivals, cultural events, and concert venues while sharing the storytelling and musical traditions of the Appalachian Mountains.
His performances blend traditional Jack Tales, Appalachian music, and original storytelling, bringing audiences into the rich heritage of the Southern mountains.
Selected International Festivals & Cultural Appearances
• Edinburgh International Storytelling Festival – Edinburgh, Scotland
• Bath International Music Festival – Bath, England
• Listowel Writers’ Week – Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland
• Winnipeg International Writers Festival – Winnipeg,Manitoba,Canada
• MerleFest – North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
TESTIMONIALS
"Jerry is an Ambassador of the Harmon/Hicks legacy of Storytelling legacy"
- The Ann Arbor Review
"Jerry is as good a teller what ever come of these mountains."
- Ray Hicks
"Observing Jerry perform on stage was an experience far better than I could imagine, he is a natural performing who holds the audience spell bound."
- Nod Knowles, Former Director of the International Bath Festival
"Jerry is a man you want to spend some time with, for his yarns takes you into his world of the Appalachian Mountains and you leave feeling refreshed entertained at a very high level yet somehow in its most simplistic form”
- Donald Smith, President/Director of the Edinburgh International Storytelling Festival
"The stories flow from Jerry as spring water rolling down the creeks in the Appalachian Mountains."
- Unknown
“Watching Jerry Harmon one cant help but feel they are sitting on a front porch in the mountains enjoying the evening.”
- The Boston Globe