MARLINTON (WVDN) – Piano player Kelton Boblits is set to perform at the Pocahontas County Opera House this weekend. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the historic opera house in downtown Marlinton.
Known for its diversity and range, old-time piano playing covers everything from ragtime piano and Harlem stride to boogie-woogie dance and standards of the 1930s. Boblits, a musician from Fayette County, has been sharing old-time piano music with a wide variety of audiences for the past eight years. Boblits’s distinct style of playing provides a unique listening experience for both fans of old-time piano music and those who are new to the genre.
Playing piano since the age of 6, Boblits was inspired to pursue old-time music after hearing a recording of “Maple Leaf Rag.” He began performing throughout his home state in schools, churches and other venues before eventually finding himself competing in the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest in Oxford, Miss., where he won first place in the junior division (ages 17 and under) in both 2018 and 2019.
“His playing is effortless, exciting and fun,” described an audience member. “His playing is assured and shows the depth of his knowledge of this music.”
Audiences enjoy Boblits’s repertoire from half a century of musical history and, while true to the style of old-time piano, he includes his own flare and interpretations of many pieces. He is sure to leave his audiences with a memorable performance and a new appreciation for America’s first popular music.
