Charles Blevins

Charles “Charlie” Vernon Blevins (1925–2004) was a celebrated Appalachian musician from Pike County, Kentucky, who spent much of his life in Borderland, Mingo County, West Virginia. Before music took center stage in his life, Charlie worked as a coal miner for sixteen years and served aboard the USS Alabama during World War II. His deep roots in the mountains and the mining life gave his music authenticity and soul.

Raised in a musical family, Charlie was inspired by his mother and grandmother, who both played a variety of traditional instruments, including the rare glass harp. He gravitated toward the banjo and other homemade instruments common in Appalachian culture. In 1953, he and his father opened the Red Robin Inn, a small honky-tonk in Borderland that would become a local institution for miners, musicians, and mountain folk alike. The venue thrived for decades before closing in 1993 due to nearby highway construction.

Charlie Blevins became well known throughout the region for his high-energy performances with his group, the Independent Mountaineers. He played festivals, schools, and community events across the region, including the King Coal Festival and local heritage days. His music and storytelling were featured in documentaries and radio shows, helping preserve the sound of traditional mountain music.

He was named “Mountaineer of the Year” by Goldenseal magazine and left behind an enduring legacy. Museums and oral history projects continue to honor his contributions to Appalachian music. Charlie passed away in August 2004 in Borderland, but his music—and the spirit behind it—continues to echo through the mountains he called home.