The Born & Bred Studio is our creative home in Shinnston, WV. Here we film live performances, record podcasts, produce artist features, and create the content that powers Born & Bred Music. It’s a space built for collaboration, storytelling, and celebrating the musicians who shape West Virginia’s music scene.
Contact us about hosting your event at our space by emailing us at blackandtealconcepts@gmail.com
Born & Bred Unveils New Public Mural at Robinson Court & Pike Street Studio
A new chapter in Shinnston’s creative landscape is emerging in the alley beside our Born & Bred studio at Robinson Court and Pike Street. This fall, we’re proud to unveil a large‑scale mural honoring the past, present, and future of West Virginia music — a visual celebration of the artists who shaped our heritage, the musicians carrying the torch today, and the voices rising to define tomorrow’s sound.
The mural was unveiled on October 20, 2026 and has become a permanent landmark in the city’s growing arts corridor.
About the Artist:, Ed Mac
The mural was created by Ed McMillan, widely known as “Ed Mac” – a multifaceted artist based in Shinnston, WV. While many recognize his tattoo work at Pike Street Tattoo in Bridgeport, Ed’s creative reach extends far beyond the needle. He is an accomplished painter, illustrator, and muralist whose work appears across north central West Virginia.
Ed’s artistic fingerprints are already woven into Born & Bred’s story. He illustrated the artwork featured throughout our Born & Bred: Heritage & Legacy book, and several of his original pieces hang inside our studio. His ability to blend regional identity, musical culture, and expressive visual storytelling makes him the perfect artist to bring this mural to life.
Beyond the visual arts, Ed is also a dedicated musician. He is the drummer and a songwriter for the Orlando‑based ska band Fat Timmy and drummer for Shinnston’s own A.M. Benson & The Stations. His connection to music adds a deeper resonance to a project centered on West Virginia’s musical lineage.
About the Mural
The mural spotlights musicians who represent the continuum of West Virginia music — honoring legends who paved the way, uplifting the artists shaping the present, and highlighting emerging talent that will carry our cultural narrative forward. It’s designed not only as a work of art, but as a living reminder that West Virginia’s music is diverse, evolving, and rooted in community.
The musicians included in the “West Virginia Songbook” mural are as follows right to left starting closest to Pike Street:
Clarence “Fuzzy” Haskins was an influential American singer, songwriter, and musician best known as a founding member of the legendary music collectives The Parliaments and Parliament-Funkadelic (P-Funk). Born in Elkhorn, West Virginia, Haskins brought his dynamic vocals, occasional guitar work, and flamboyant stage presence to the forefront of the funk movement during the 1960s and 1970s. After helping shape the groundbreaking sounds of both Parliament and Funkadelic, he pursued a solo career with albums like A Whole Nother Thang and was later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 alongside his fellow P-Funk members.
Kathy Mattea (located at the top) is an acclaimed American country and bluegrass singer-songwriter celebrated for her warm, soulful vocals and folk-infused sound. Born in South Charleston, West Virginia, Mattea emerged as a major voice in country music during the 1980s and 1990s, achieving widespread success with chart-topping hits such as “Goin’ Gone,” “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses,” and “Where’ve You Been.” Over her decades-long career, she has earned two Grammy Awards, multiple Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, and praise for her deep musical connection to Appalachian heritage and environmental themes. Today, she continues to perform, record, and share her passion for regional storytelling, including hosting the long-running public radio show Mountain Stage.
Sierra Ferrell is an acclaimed American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her vibrant blend of bluegrass, gypsy jazz, old-time folk, and country music. Born in Charleston, West Virginia, Ferrell honed her distinctive vocal delivery and eclectic musical style while busking and traveling across the country before rising to national prominence in the roots music scene. With her critically acclaimed albums like Long Time Coming and Trail of Flowers, she has captivated audiences with her expressive, vintage-inspired vocals, captivating storytelling, and dynamic stage presence, earning top honors including multiple Americana Music Honors & Awards and Grammy recognition.
Johnnie Johnson was a pioneering American blues and rock-and-roll pianist whose driving boogie-woogie style helped define the sound of early rock music. Born in Fairmont, West Virginia, Johnson was a self-taught musician who rose to prominence after forming the Sir John Trio and hiring a young Chuck Berry, sparking a legendary multi-decade collaboration. His masterly piano arrangements defined classic rock standards like “Maybellene,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” and “Sweet Little Sixteen,” and he served as the inspiration for Berry’s iconic hit “Johnny B. Goode”. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, Johnson is widely remembered as one of the architects of modern rock-and-roll piano.
Bill Withers was a legendary American singer-songwriter and musician revered for his soulful, smooth vocals and timeless, deeply relatable songwriting. Born in Slab Fork, West Virginia, Withers spent nine years in the United States Navy and worked as an aircraft mechanic before pursuing a music career in his late 20s. He quickly rose to fame in the 1970s with iconic hits such as “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lean on Me,” “Use Me,” and “Lovely Day.” Renowned for his unassuming delivery and heartfelt, understated compositions, Withers earned three Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of soul music’s greatest craftsmen.
Hasil Adkins was a wildly eccentric and influential American outsider musician known for his raw, high-energy blend of country, blues, rockabilly, and proto-punk. Born in Boone County, West Virginia, Adkins grew up in extreme poverty in a shack in the hills, where he taught himself to play guitar, drums, and harmonica simultaneously—inventing a raucous “one-man band” style that became his trademark. Although he remained largely underground during his early career, his frantic recordings for small labels in the 1950s and 1960s, such as “She Said” and “No More Hot Dogs,” later inspired the 1980s garage rock and psychobilly movements, earning him a cult following and the affectionate nickname “The Hunch.”
Brad Paisley is a highly acclaimed American country music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and entertainer renowned for his virtuosic musicianship and witty, story-driven songwriting. Born in Glen Dale, West Virginia, Paisley received his first guitar from his grandfather at age eight, began performing locally as a teenager, and eventually rose to become one of the defining voices of modern country music. A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001, he has amassed dozens of chart-topping hits—including “He Didn’t Have to Be,” “Mud on the Tires,” and “Ticks”—while earning multiple Grammy Awards, Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, and widespread praise for his signature blend of traditional honky-tonk, modern rock sensibilities, and deep Appalachian roots.
Hazel Dickens was a pioneering American bluegrass and country singer, songwriter, and activist whose powerful, unaccompanied-style singing gave a fierce voice to the struggles of Appalachian coal miners and working-class women. Born in Mercer County, West Virginia, Dickens grew up in a large mining family before moving to Baltimore, Maryland, where she became a central figure in the urban folk and bluegrass revival of the 1960s alongside musical partner Alice Gerrard. Celebrated for her unyielding social justice anthems like “Working Girl Blues” and “Black Lung,” she broke gender barriers in a male-dominated genre, became the first woman to receive the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Distinguished Achievement Award, and was later inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
Gyasi is an energetic singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who has breathed new life into the glam rock genre with a theatrical, high-energy style reminiscent of 1970s icons like T. Rex and David Bowie. Raised in a remote holler in rural West Virginia by bohemian parents who lived close to the land, he grew up immersed in vintage classic rock records rather than television, teaching himself to play guitar at a young age. After spending time studying at the Berklee College of Music and navigating the garage rock scene, he eventually settled in Nashville, where he built a cult following. Known for his flamboyant stage presence, gender-bending fashion, and searing guitar work on records like Pronounced Jah-See and Rock N’ Roll Swordfight, Gyasi has carved out a unique space as an unapologetic, flamboyant rock-and-roll outsider.
In addition to his solo work, Gyasi expanded his rock footprint when he was tapped by legendary producer Bob Ezrin to join forces with shock rock royalty. After receiving a surprise phone call out of the blue, he stepped in as the lead guitarist for the legendary Alice Cooper group, channeling the raw, unconventional flair of the late original guitarist Glen Buxton. His electrifying guitar work and natural chemistry earned him a central role on the band’s reunion project, The Revenge of Alice Cooper, cementing his status as a torchbearer for authentic 1970s-style glam and shock rock.
Grace Campbell is an emerging singer-songwriter and classically trained vocalist known for her captivating blend of folk, rock, pop, and alternative music. Born and bred in Princeton, West Virginia, she developed a rich, multifaceted musical foundation early on—gaining admission to the Berklee College of Music before continuing her studies and creative work in the state. Operating out of the Mountain State and building a vibrant grassroots following, Campbell has earned regional acclaim, including being named Best Pop Artist in West Virginia and a Pittsburgh Rising Star by Women Who Rock. With her sharp songwriting skills, magnetic personality, and standout releases like her single “Eyes Wide Open”, she has quickly become one of the bright new voices representing West Virginia’s contemporary music scene.
Collaborative Funding
This project was made possible through the generosity and vision of Debbie Cantrell, who established a private grant to support improvements throughout Shinnston. Her commitment to investing in local culture continues to spark meaningful growth in our community.
We also extend our sincere thanks to The Cultural Foundation of Harrison County, who graciously managed the funds and helped bring this mural from concept to reality. Their stewardship ensures that public art, and the stories it preserves, remain accessible to everyone.
