The Best of Pickin with country star Kathy Mattea

WHRO | By Barry Graham

Published April 1, 2025 at 2:27 PM EDT

In 1967, Bobbie Joe Gentry released the single" Ode to Billy Joe" which instantly became an international smash hit. Gentry would go on to win two Grammy Awards in 1968 for the song. Since then, it has been covered by countless artists, including country star Kathy Mattea, who put the song on her big 2018 comeback album Pretty Bird. Tune in to hear Mattea's version and ponder as countless others have.. what exactly was being thrown off the Tallahatchie Bridge? Tune in for the Best of Pickin.. Friday night at 10 on

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Barry Graham Pickin'89.5 WHRV

Barry Graham

Barry Graham used to arrive at WHRO with a briefcase full of papers and lesson plans. For 32 years he taught US and Virginia Government in the Virginia Beach Public Schools. While teaching was always his first love, radio was a close second. While attending Old Dominion, Barry was program director at WODU, the college radio station. After graduating, he came to WHRO as an overnight announcer. Originally intending to stay on only while completing graduate school, he was soon hooked on Public Radio and today is the senior announcer on WHRV. In 2001, Barry earned his Ph.D in Urban Studies by writing a history of WHRO and analyzing its impact upon local education, policy and cultural arts organizations.

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