History Lesson

Check out the BBC documentary, "Folk America" on YouTube. It's all there! This clip shows the the origins of "song-catchers" and folklorists searching the mountain south for examples of "local color" that they could sell to early record labels.



Alan Lomax narrates a history of Appalachian music:


Download a compilation of Smoky Mountain Ballads

Solidarity!

Just when you thought the American Labor movement was a historical relic or little more than just another political lobby, Wisconsin workers have shown the power of average Americans standing up to powerful forces determined to throw them under the bus for the sake of profit. This is NOT a political blog, but there's no denying the role that folk songs have played in bringing about social justice!

The Almanac Singers - Roll The Union On



Pete Seeger - Which Side Are You On?