Moses Asch photo by Diana Davies

Today, December 2nd, 2009, would have been the 104th birthday of Folkways Records founder Moses Asch, and 2009 marks the 70th anniversary of his first foray into the record business.

Smithsonian Folkways is celebrating Moe’s birthday with the gift of a free download of one of Moses Asch’s first recordings as well as a free stream of the Worlds of Sound Sampler, a 26-track companion to the book Worlds of Sound: The Story of Smithsonian Folkways. The download and stream will be available through Thursday, December 3rd only.

The mp3 and stream can be found here:
http://www.folkways.si.edu/explore_folkways/moe_birthday.aspx

NOTE: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings retail distribution is through ADA (Alternative Distribution Alliance) at 800.239.3232. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings releases are available through record and book outlets. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, as well as the original Folkways, Cook, Dyer-Bennet, Monitor, Paredon, Collector and Fast Folk collections, are available via mail order at 1.888.FOLKWAYS or 800.410.9815 and via the Internet. Visit the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings website at http://www.folkways.si.edu/ and http://www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/ .