I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the beloved English folk singer, Roy Harris. Roy died February 9 at the age of 82. Roy was one of the great voices and influences of the English folk revival, … Continue reading →
The nation’s oldest continuously operating folk music coffeehouse, the historic Caffè Lena in Saratoga Springs, New York has announced a unique philanthropic partnership with Bonacio Construction Inc. The deal is part of a restoration campaign aimed at repairing, preserving and enhancing … Continue reading →
Sad news out of Beacon, New York … at a meeting on January 20, the Clearwater environmental group’s board of directors voted to cancel the 2016 annual festival, the Great Hudson River Revival. There are also lots of questions about … Continue reading →
New Orleans legend, Allen Toussaint, composer, pianist, producer and performer, passed away after suffering a heart attack while on tour in Spain earlier today, Tuesday November 10th. Composing hits, such as Al Hirt’s “Java” and Benny Spellman’s “Lipstick Traces (On … Continue reading →
On September 23, the folk music community lost one of its guiding lights with the passing of Jerry Epstein. To sum up all the contributions and inspiration this man provided is an impossible task. Labels of folklorist, singer, arranger, conductor, … Continue reading →
Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders may be best known for his progressive politics, but did you know he once dipped his toes into the world of political folk music? In 1987, Sanders, then Mayor of Burlington VT, joined thirty Vermont singers … Continue reading →
WFDU-FM’s TRADITIONS Playlist for July 26, 2015 Over the past few years, I find myself broadcasting memorial shows much too frequently. The folk music community recently said farewell to another influential member when Theodore Bikel passed away on July 20 … Continue reading →
We received the sad news yesterday of the passing of one of the great revival singers of traditional songs, a teller of tall tales, and a pillar of the Chicago folk song community: our dear friend Art Thieme. Art passed … Continue reading →
Perhaps the best known and definitely the most influential bluesman ever, Riley B. King (we’ll get to the B.B. shortly) was born to sharecroppers in 1925 in Berclair, Mississippi, a crossroads encampment just outside the whistle-stop town of Itta Bena … Continue reading →
Folksinger, civil rights activist, folklorist and organizer Guy Carawan passed away this past Saturday evening, May 2nd, at age 87. A dear, gentle and thoughtful man, Guy was a powerful and key figure in championing southern music and culture, and … Continue reading →
