Teresa Price who publishes as T A Price
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 11:01 am

Two first cousins, Dennis McEntire and T A Price, are set to release a deeply personal new album that honors their shared heritage and the traditions of their family and community. The album draws its inspiration from Shingle Hollow where their grandparents, Fred and Maggie McEntire, lived and raised their family on a 116-acre homestead. Through evocative storytelling and heartfelt music, this project preserves the essence of rural Appalachian life and the values of hard work, family, and music that shaped generations of the McEntire family.

Price, a celebrated poet, crafted the lyrics for the album, evoking the stories and lives of Shingle Hollow's residents with a blend of poetic grace and historical insight. The music, produced by McEntire, a renowned musician and educator, weaves traditional Appalachian sounds with fresh, modern arrangements, staying true to the heart of the community's musical roots.

Dennis McEntire, born and raised in Rutherford County has spent a lifetime immersed in the music of his Appalachian homeland. Surrounded by music from an early age--his mother played piano in church, and his older brother performed in a "hillbilly band"--Dennis's father, Elzie (EB) ran a small country store that served as a hub for community storytelling and music sharing. "I got exposed to music at that time from the old-timers," Dennis recalls.

At the age of eight, Dennis began his musical journey as an apprentice to E.O. Rednair, a musician who had played with Fisher Henley, a recording artist in the 1930s. Rednair's influence exposed Dennis to the early country music styles of the 1920s and 1930s, and he learned guitar, mandolin, banjo, and bass. Throughout his high school years and military service in Europe during the Vietnam War, Dennis continued to pursue his passion for music, later studying traditional mountain music at Appalachian State University, where he mastered the old-time two-finger banjo picking style.

Returning to Rutherford County after college, Dennis began teaching music and passed down the skills he had learned. He formed the family band Hickory Flat, which gained recognition after finishing fourth in a bluegrass competition in Nashville. He also continues to teach at the Pick Shack in Shingle Hollow, inspiring the next generation of musicians.

Dennis is also an accomplished songwriter. His song, "Let The Big Dog Eat," performed by Jim Van Cleve, was the #1 song in Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine for three months and was the opening track on the 2006 album No Apologies. His work has been recorded by well-known artists such as Ronnie Bowman and Jim Van Cleve, with his songs featured on labels like Rebel Records and Rural Rhythm. Dennis also produces music through his home studio, PKB Records, where he collaborates with family members and engineers like Robbie McDaniel.

T A Price, a poet, writer, educator, was born in Santa Barbara County, California, but spent every summer in Shingle Hollow. In 1969, she moved permanently to the community, where her connection to the land and its people became a foundational part of her life and work. Price's poetry spans many topics, and also frequently captures the essence of Shingle Hollow, weaving stories of resilience, community, and the harsh realities of rural life. She is a former feature writer of Lake Lure's Mountain Breeze and published extensively on Open Salon Magazine.

In the Forward to her poetry collection Bent 31 Poems, Price was praised by renowned Southern Writer, Ron Rash for her outstanding contributions to North Carolina's literary landscape, citing her as one of the state's "best poets." Bent 31 was one of 13 nominees for the 2017 North Carolina Award for Most Significant Original Poetry by a NC writer.

Price's work has earned recognition for its lyrical beauty, "sonic excellence," and emotional depth. Her writing for this album captures the spirit of Shingle Hollow's residents, paying tribute to her own family's legacy and the community's rich cultural history.

The album features a series of songs that explore the hard-working, hardscrabble lives of Shingle Hollow's residents. From making cornbread and biscuits to the heartbreak of land speculation and losing family property, the music paints a vivid picture of a time and place that shaped generations. One track features an interview with the late Saney Monroe McEntire, who in his interview with journalist Jock Lauterer claimed to be "the oldest living veteran in the county." Another ballad recounts the harrowing tale of Polly McGaha, who survived a raid and was whisked away to safety by her husband, Tom.

Through this album McEntire and Price offer listeners an intimate, emotional connection to the Appalachian way of life. Dennis's production blends traditional Appalachian sounds with innovative arrangements, capturing the deep roots of the region's music while bringing a modern sensibility to the project. The album is predominately bluegrass, but offers up a slice of Americana folk, and storytelling.

"Shingle Hollow is a place where family, faith, and music are interwoven into the very fabric of life," says McEntire. "This album is my way of honoring those who came before us and telling their stories through music."

Folks interested in picking up a CD can find one at the Green Hill Store, Next Door Used Books, and at the Main Street Market, Rutherfordton. The CDs are $10.

You can stream the CD on Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music (Apple) iTunes, and Youtube.