Western KY musicians who lost instruments in storms receive replacements this weekend

Musicians in western Kentucky who lost their instruments in the tornadoes are getting some help this weekend. Kentucky folksinger Michael Johnathon is the host and producer of the internationally syndicated WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour. He and a group of volunteers have been collecting musical instruments from around the country to replace instruments lost or broken in the storms. Johnathon said he believes in America's front porch and all those front porches touched by tornadoes are gone.

" What made their hometowns a hometown is all gone. And so, this is something that I knew that we could contribute to bring back to those devastated areas-the music and the art that they lost."

Johnathon said more than 1000 instruments have been donated from as far away as Alaska. All instruments including banjos, guitars, mandolins, and flutes are being cleaned and refurbished by volunteers.

Volunteers like Cathy Currier, manager at Currier's Music World in Richmond are working to refurbish instruments collected from all over North America. Currier said, frequently, the donations come with handwritten notes.