Ketch Secor is a traveler first and a musician second. As the founding frontman of the Grammy-winning string band Old Crow Medicine Show, Secor has spent over two decades reviving the spirit of the rails and the street corner. While many know him as the architect of "Wagon Wheel"—a song he co-wrote with Bob Dylan at age 17 that has since become a global folk anthem—Secor remains a restless observer of the American landscape. His latest solo venture, Story of the Crow Told Me, captures this wanderlust, blending his deep knowledge of regional history with the grit of independent music.

For Secor, music is the "ticket" that allows him to satisfy a lifelong obsession with place and geography. He grew up riding Amtrak lines, a childhood experience that fostered a permanent sense of "wanderlust" and a feeling of being "at home when riding on the rails". This nomadic spirit defines his approach to creativity; he views songwriting not as a destination, but as a "portal" to connecting with the great spirit and the people he meets in "Kroger parking lots" across the country.

Secor speaks of music as a "primal" force that "erases our differences" and "elevates us all into the heavens". He reflects on "Wagon Wheel" as a "true American folk song"—a piece that is "half borrowed and half stolen"—noting its power to bring people together regardless of their backgrounds. On his new album, he continues this tradition of "shapeshifting," using spoken-word and rhythmic delivery to honor the complex history of country music as a beautiful blend of cultural imitation.

A central theme of Secor’s life is an insatiable curiosity about everything from the Canadian Arctic to the "tricksters" operating in the margins of society. Having played a pivotal role in Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary, Secor understands the importance of being a "steward" of tradition while constantly questioning the future of hubs like Nashville. He encourages listeners to stay open to the "rich and mysterious" nature of life, asserting that curiosity is the ultimate tool for leveling the playing field between us all