Heart of the K-Town Connection | Original Song by Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault

Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault’s original song “Heart of the K-Town Connection” is a love letter to Kannapolis — from worthless farmland by the county line to the mill village that built this town, and from the weave room to the lab lights of today.

Written by the Rough Talk Cousins with a musical assist from Chad Bearden, this track honors the calloused hands that raised Cannon Mills, the night the whole world shook, Dale Earnhardt flying down the track, boys running wild on Ebenezer, West Avenue glowing, and Friday night lights under the Big Green Machine. It’s about a community that refused to be counted out and still rises ever more.

Lyrics by Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault
Music assist: Chad Bearden

This one’s for Kannapolis.

———

Some worthless farmland by the county line
Turned into hope, a dream divine
A mill rose up, a town was born
The whistle blew, that became our norm

They came from miles with calloused hands
Towels were made on these southern lands
A mill town strong, a legacy
The roots run deep as the old oak tree

They said we were finished, our fate at stake
But we stood as one for pity’s sake
Held our ground when the whole world shook
Look at us now, just take a look

From the hard-working mill guys in the weave room
To the man in black and our wonders too
This town is strong, down to its core
Our future dreams are the mill before
Kannapolis, you rise evermore
K-Town strong

We stand as one
From the mill to the lab
Look how far we’ve come
K-Town pride in every direction
That’s the heart of the K-Town connection

Boys on Ebenezer, running wild and free
Dust on their boots, born of history
Dale Earnhardt, flying down the track
Our hometown hero, never looking back

West Avenue is the place to be
Our town’s alive, so full of energy
The Gem theater’s glowing bright
Young love sparked in that neon light

They thought we were gone, but they never knew
A mill guy’s heart won’t split in two
We rebuild again, that’s what we do
Standing strong as a red, white and blue

From the hard-working mill guys in the weave room
To the man in black and our wonders too
This town is strong, down to its core
Our future dreams are the mill before
Kannapolis, you rise evermore
K-Town strong

We stand as one
From the mill to the lab
Look how far we’ve come
K-Town pride in every direction
That’s the heart of the K-Town connection

Now lab lights shine where the looms once spun
A new kind of hope, a new day begun
But the stories we carry and all we pursue
Keep our past alive, guiding us through

From the boys on Ebenezer
To the Cannon name
Swanee lights glowing
And those Friday night games

Our spirit endures, forever we roar
Our future dreams for the mill before
Kannapolis, our hearts are yours
Kannapolis, forever strong to the core
K-Town strong

We stand as one from the mill to the lab
Look how far we’ve come
K-Town pride in every direction
We are the K-Town connection

———

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Hardee’s Biscuits Got Him Inside the Mills: Chad Mitchell’s Untold Story | Ep 75

In Episode 75 of the K-Town Connection, lifelong Kannapolis photographer and artist Chad Mitchell opens his archive of more than 25,000 photographs that document the demolition of Cannon Mills — the place that built this town. As the massive mill complex disappeared, Chad decided someone had to record what was being lost. What began as a personal mission became one of the most important visual records of Kannapolis history ever created. He takes us inside the abandoned buildings, shares how he gained access (Hardee’s biscuits helped), and reveals the stories behind some of his most powerful images — including the fall of the iconic water tower, a once-in-a-lifetime balloon ride over the complex, and the unforgettable photograph of his late father standing in the partially demolished mill, looking out at the rubble of the place where he had worked for decades. Chad also looks back at an incredible creative career that includes photographing Appalachian State football during its national championship years, serving as team photographer for Kannapolis professional baseball, working with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, and creating artwork connected to Dale Earnhardt. His guiding philosophy has always been simple: Tell as much of the story as possible in one shutter click. Today, as a new generation grows up in a Kannapolis that looks nothing like the mill town their parents and grandparents knew, these photographs have become even more valuable. They don’t just preserve buildings — they preserve the people, the work, the memories, and the identity of a community that was forever changed. This episode is exactly what the K-Town Connection is about: preserving Kannapolis history by telling the stories of the people who lived it. 📸 Browse and purchase Chad’s photography and artwork: ChadMitchell.com 📍 Filmed at Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Tune-Up & Brake Service Garage in Kannapolis, North Carolina 🎙️ Hosted by the #RoughTalkCousins Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault, along with Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin and David Steele Chapters 0:00 – Intro & Local Updates 5:32 – Welcome to Episode 75 5:52 – Introducing Chad Mitchell 7:02 – Growing Up in Kannapolis 12:00 – How Chad Began Documenting the Mills 14:00 – Getting Access with Hardee’s Biscuits 17:18 – Inside the Abandoned Mill Buildings 19:24 – Over 25,000 Photographs 25:10 – The Darkest Place in the Mill 27:20 – “Lifeline” – The Railroad Light Painting 37:15 – Where to See & Buy the Photos 38:21 – Kiln-Dried Maple Floors & the Sign 39:49 – Baseball Photography Years 43:45 – The Dale Earnhardt Artwork 46:06 – The “Quality Work Means Job Security” Sign 53:45 – The Balloon Ride Over Cannon Mills 56:15 – The Photograph of Chad’s Father 59:48 – Closing Thoughts & Thank You

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