Ken Knox of The Chairmen of the Board: Kannapolis Is NC’s Music Capital | EP 06

Ken Knox of The Chairmen of the Board sits down in Kannapolis to talk Detroit Motown roots, beach music, the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and why he believes Kannapolis is the Music Capital of North Carolina.

From transistor radios and street-corner singing in Detroit to joining General Johnson and Danny Woods, Ken shares the stories behind the hits (including Carolina Girls) and even performs the Sun Drop jingle he once pitched. Recorded in the historic WRKB studios in downtown Kannapolis.

Chapters:
0:00 Cold Open – Beach Music Season & The Surf
2:33 Theme Song – This Is My Town
3:19 Welcome to K-Town Connection
3:50 Ken Knox Enters the Studio
4:04 Sun Drop Welcome & Community Pride
6:41 Detroit Radio, Transistor Radios & Street Corners
9:00 The Beatles U-Haul Story
10:36 Meeting General Johnson & Danny Woods
11:05 Audition at Invictus Records – Joining Chairmen of the Board
20:34 The Legendary Sun Drop Jingle
22:26 Ken’s Experience in Kannapolis
41:13 North Carolina Music Hall of Fame
41:56 Kannapolis: The Music Capital of North Carolina
42:37 Swanee Theater, Local Talent & A.L. Brown Roots
43:43 Waterburger, Witch Doctor & Local Favorites
44:31 Falls Jewelers
45:04 Band Members Shoutouts
47:08 Upcoming Shows – KC & the Sunshine Band + Beach Boys Rumor
47:47 Sun Drop Jingle Reprise
48:34 Dr. Dave Joins
49:37 Get Jiggy with the Piggy & Craig Morgan
50:08 Closing – Three for Dale

Hosted by Chris Hughes and Ryan Dayvault
Recorded at Dayvault’s Garage / historic WRKB studios – Kannapolis, NC
Special appearance by Chuck Irvin (Dr. Dave)

If you love beach music, local history, and the people who made the Carolina sound, this one’s for you. Subscribe and share with someone who still plays Carolina Girls at every wedding.

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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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