Stephen D. Winick is a folklorist and writer who works at the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress as the writer and editor. Among his responsibilities have been the editorship of the magazine Folklife Center News (2005-2011) and the blog Folklife Today (2013-present). In over twenty years as a music journalist for such publications as Dirty Linen, Sing Out!, All-Music Guide and Music Hound, he interviewed and profiled some of the top names in folk and world music, including The Chieftains, Alan Stivell, Steeleye Span, La Bottine Souriante, Martin Carthy, Great Big Sea, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Le Vent du Nord, and many, many others. For the last few years, Steve has written articles and reviews on folklore and folk music for the Huffington Post. Steve has M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Folklore and Folklife from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the longtime convener (currently senior co-convener) of the Music and Song Section of the American Folklore Society. As a folklorist, he has written definitive articles on several songs, including "Reynardine," "The Leaving of Liverpool," and "Kumbaya." He is also an expert on verbal folklore, and has published articles on legends, riddles, folktales, and especially proverbs.
Written in the spring of 1978 by the Canadian singer-songwriter Stan Rogers, “The Flowers of Bermuda” is a disaster ballad on a small scale, telling the story of a ship that founders with nineteen people aboard. We’ve looked at shipwreck songs … Continue reading →
