December 2nd would have been Moe Asch’s 113th birthday. He was the founder of Folkways Records. His pioneering label released a wide variety of music from all over the world, and, after his death, the label was acquired by the … Continue reading →
Introduction – “Boll Weevil told the farmer …” Today’s feature, “Boll Weevil,” fits into our ‘disaster songs’ category. Even so, it’s a bit of an outlier – as the photograph at the head of this post might suggest. (Don’t worry, I’ll get … Continue reading →
This week we begin a two-part feature called “Sing Me a Story.” Stories are a an important part of the holiday season, and this week we’ll listen to some of the finest singers and songwriters that tell wonderful stories with … Continue reading →
October 3, 2017 marks the 50th Anniversary of the death of Woody Guthrie. On this week’s program we’ll hear Woody along with some wonderful covers of his songs from Cisco Houston, James Talley, Anne Feeney and others. We’ll also hear … Continue reading →
In honor of Labor Day, I’ve collected some rare and better known songs about the labor struggle. Today many of us take for granted the great strides made by the labor movement, improving the lives of all workers. We’ll hear … Continue reading →
“I am here when the cities are gone. I am here before the cities come. I nourished the lonely men on horses. I will keep the laughing men who ride iron. I am dust of men.” — from “Prairie” by … Continue reading →
“The way the band kept playing was a noble thing. I heard them first while still we were working wireless, when there was a ragtime tune for us, and the last I saw of the band, when I was floating … Continue reading →
In the past few years there has been a resurgence in interest in the music of Woody Guthrie. The political times we live in and the growing chasm between rich and poor in the US makes Woody’s music as relevant … Continue reading →
“Prepare to take a ride …” I‘m just shy of fifty years old. My father died at ninety-one a month ago, and my older brother, tragically, three months before that. My mother passed less than two years ago, just a … Continue reading →
A few weeks ago I received an email message from a loyal listener. She told me her 12-year-old son was interested in Pete and Woody and was learning the banjo. The Banjo! Whew! The song he was trying to learn … Continue reading →
