On July 3, 1981, Ervin Rouse, composer of “Orange Blossom Special,” the “unofficial anthem of bluegrass,” died. Plagued by alcoholism and mental illness, he was living on the edge of the Everglades ...

In Hear This, A.V. Club writers sing the praises of songs they know well. This week: Songs with prominent harmonica usage. In junior high, I took torturous piano lessons, but I wasn’t a natural and ...

“Just be sure you spell my uncle’s name right,” my wife Linda admonished me.”It’s ‘Ervin’ with a ‘V’, not ‘Erwin.’ ” Of course I would. After all, Uncle Ervin — with a V —was the composer of “The ...

From 1925 through 1953, the luxury passenger train Orange Blossom Special traveled from New York City to Miami and back. Other Florida stops included Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale, and Hollywood before ...

Most men wore hats under a bright Naples afternoon sun that winter day nearly 90 years ago. A sign with the words 'Welcome To Naples' hung near patriotic ceremonial bunting. Many along the front row ...

It’s the Carousel Ballroom and it’s Johnny Cash with the Tennessee Three. Bear Owsley, the acid manufacturer and soundman extraordinaire, was on the soundboard. The Carousel was a San Francisco music ...

One of the greatest celebrations in railroad history happened Jan. 7, 1927, when the long-awaited Orange Blossom Special first arrived in Fort Myers, headed to Naples. Historian Gregg Turner describes ...