Jimmy LaFave.

Hear the charming Texan with a sweet spot for Woody Guthrie perform live in West Virginia.

Jimmy LaFave makes his seventh appearance on Mountain Stage, recorded live in Charleston, W.V. LaFave came up honestly, honing his skills as a songwriter while hosting an open mic in Austin, Texas; before long, he was winning awards, with veteran rock critic Dave Marsh praising him as "one of America's greatest voices." Though he's made his home in Austin for more than 20 years, LaFave has maintained a connection to Oklahoma's musical heritage, especially that of Woody Guthrie.

LaFave has been an essential participant in various projects related to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Guthrie's birth. He has also toured with "Ribbon of Highway — Endless Skyway", a travelling tribute to Guthrie that features a rotating cast of musicians. Guthrie's "Oklahoma Hills" is included in LaFave's set here, along with his own tune "Talk To Me," which was not heard as part of the Mountain Stage radio broadcast. Ever the charmer, LaFave begins his set by making the most of his Oklahoma and Texas roots, introducing himself as "the first musician to welcome West Virginia to the Big 12 Conference."

This performance was originally published on April 27, 2012.

Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Filed in:

• Concerts
• Music