Billy Edd Wheeler Wows Large Crowd at Appalachian Heritage Celebration
6/13/08
Author: Sam Cole
Billy Edd Wheeler, artist, author, poet, and singer/songwriter, joined the staff of Appalachian Heritage on Friday, June 13th to help them celebrate the Winter 2008 Issue in which he appeared as featured author and artist. A large crowd—the largest yet for an Appalachian Heritage reading—of alumni, students, faculty, and community members all gathered for Wheeler’s “reading.” However, it soon became clear that this was much more than just a reading. A back-up band, who had set-up their equipment before hand, had been hired. Several easels set up in the back of the room showcased some of Wheeler’s paintings. It was to be a night that highlighted all of Wheeler’s talents, if possible, in one sitting.
Beth Bissmeyer, a student assistant at Appalachian Heritage, introduced the audience to Billy Edd, who entertained with stories, jokes, poems, songs, and even an excerpt from one of his plays. There to help Wheeler were students Beth Bissmeyer, Erin Hay, and Samantha Cole, along with Editor George Brosi. After the reading portion of the event, Billy Edd was joined onstage with several musicians and friends to perform some of his greatest hit songs like “Jackson,” and “Coward of the County”.
“I got such a kick out of seeing Billy Edd perform,” says Beth Bissmeyer. “Kenny Rogers was one of the artists that would sometimes be played on car-trips when I was little, so I had become quite familiar with the song, ‘Coward of the County.’ Hearing Billy Edd perform that song, along with many of the others he did that night, was a real treat.”
After the event, Billy Edd was kind enough to stick around to autograph books and CDs and to talk with folks about his songs and writing. His kindness and talent at that event showed us all just what a regional treasure he truly is. 
Billy Edd Wheeler is a 1955 graduate of Berea College and a member of the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, as well as the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. He presently lives in Swannanoa, North Carolina. You can visit his website here, http://www.billyeddwheeler.com.
More than 200 people turned out for Billy Edd Wheeler’s special Appalachian Heritage celebration. (photos by Beth Bissmeyer).