Get your raffle ticket here!

For just a moment, put yourself in the shoes of a person who plays music, whether they’re professional, amateur or just getting started. Imagine what it would be like to lose the instrument that helps you understand your life, to make sense of the world. Now, imagine losing it and most of what you own during the most traumatic event of your life. Who is going to help you get music back? 

This is the mission of ReString Appalachia. An initiative that started with American Songcatcher after Hurricane Helene, ReString is now a 501(c)3 nonprofit who has given over 800 instruments to musicians from natural disasters in Appalachia and Los Angeles, and soon, the Texas Hill Country. 

You can help us accomplish this by buying a raffle ticket to win a signed, one of a kind bluegrass banjo from world renowned banjoist Béla Fleck. 

This fundraiser is in partnership with the Henhouse Prowlers, their nonprofit Bluegrass Ambassadors, ReString Appalachia, and American Songcatcher.  

Raffle ends Sept 1st! 

www.ReStringAppalachia.org

We’ll be back VERY soon with a few interviews, and we’ll have a very special field recording and feature on the Earl Scruggs Music Festival and his legacy. See you next time, on American Songcatcher. 

Today, I’m sharing a conversation I had with one of today’s most eclectic roots musicians, Buffalo Nichols. Since his earliest infatuations with guitar, Carl, who goes by the name Buffalo Nichols has asked himself the same question: How can I bring the blues of the past into the future? A student of African traditions and its roots in the blues, as well as the black influence on “white” music in country, bluegrass, old time and folk, the depth and airy nature of his voice lends itself to all these traditions, as represented in his music. We talked about his trajectory as a musician early on, being picked up by labels, and now being independent, the misinformed music history narrative that’s been pushed on all of us since the 1920’s, and many things in between. Enjoy! 

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Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, editing, recording and distribution

Over the last 5 years, we have had the privilege of bringing you stories of Pioneering musicians such as Bill Monroe, Sam Cooke, Johnny Cash, Lead Belly, Dolly Parton, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Pete Seeger, Jean Ritchie and so many more.

However, a recently shift was forced upon the American Songcatcher program. Our distributor, Spotify for Podcasters/Creators, has taken down 1/4 of our episodes on all platforms, with more likely to follow, as they have began to crack down on the rights and usage of songs. Although this program is strictly education-based, and we don’t sell products or produce any notable revenue from these episodes, they don’t see what we do as fair use. It’s a big blow, as over a year’s worth of our work is now gone from the convenient places to listen to them.

And so, our standstill for the last 5 months has been one of great pondering, and a lot of work with our nonprofit ReString Appalachia, where we have just surpassed 700 instruments given to those who had them taken away from natural disasters. 

It’s been decided that from now on, American Songcatcher will strictly focus on traditional song history, field recordings, and interviews. We embrace our new direction, and we hope you will too. All of the episodes will be available on our website, AmericanSongcatcher.com in the next month. We’ll be back with some new content soon, thank you for your patience, see you next time on American Songcatcher.

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Credits:

Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, editing, recording and distribution

A few years back, we had the pleasure of partnering with Smithsonian Folkways for a special two part series on Folkways Records founder Moses Asch, who was born 99 years ago earlier this month. To honor his legacy, we combined these two pieces and re-releasing them today. We’ll traverse Moe’s early career, bankruptcy, and the tumultuous yet tantalizing 40 years of iconic recordings with pioneering and lesser known artists of Folkways Records. You’ll find out how what Moe accomplished became so woven with the cultural footprint of American Music as we know it today. Now… here’s the story of Moses Asch.

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Credits: 

Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, writing, editing, distribution

Collaboration Credits:

Smithsonian Folkways 

Full Moses Asch interview with Arhoolie Records’ founder Chris Strachwitz

Interviewees:

Richard Carlin - Worlds of Sound: The Story of Smithsonian Folkways - Book

Michael Asch - 

Dom Flemons - Black Cowboys from Smithsonian Folkways

Websites:

Smithsonian | SF2 | NY Times | Redalyc | Arhoolie | Jstor.com | NPR | Routledge | AllPurposeGuru | NY TIMES 2 | University of Alberta | Haaretz | Folkworks

Videos:FAI 

Folkways: World of Sound Documentary 

Books:

Making people's music : Moe Asch and Folkways records - Peter D Goldsmith 

Back in July of 2024, I had the pleasure of bringing the first LIVE American Songcatcher podcast experience to the historic Graham County Courthouse in Robbinsville, NC. This time, I can't edit out all of my stumbles.

The multimedia presentation traverses Western North Carolina music history starting with the native Cherokee, first settlers and immigration, African American influence on Appalachian music, and short stories of obscure and well known musicians from North Carolina. Attendees had visuals of photos and videos that you'll have to experience at the next live episode. The very end features a short concert with history behind a few songs that come from North Carolina.

This presentation was made possible by ⁠Graham County Travel & Tourism⁠

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Credits:

Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, editing, recording and distribution

ReString Appalachia

www.americansongcatcher.com/ReStringAppalachia

ReString Appalachia is an initiative by American Songcatcher to get instruments that were lost due to Helene back in the hands of musicians throughout Appalachia. This effort is supported by over 125 roots musicians, including Bela Fleck, Rhiannon Giddens, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Infamous Stringdusters and many more, as well as several non profits, instrument makers, venues, festivals, actors, visual artists and media outlets.

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It's been nearly a month since Helene brought unfathomable devastation to Appalachia. I've honestly never been so consumed with grief after a natural disaster. I have countless memories of performing, camping and hiking... so many good times throughout Appalachia over the last 15 years. I got married in Swannanoa. I almost moved to both Brevard and Asheville. I also have dozens and dozens of dear, talented friends throughout East TN, WNC, SC, North GA, and FL. It's been hard to embrace that it'll never be the same, that so many are suffering.

Words fell short in a time like this. Action speaks, and I had to do something.

So, through the American Songcatcher network, I've been quietly building an initiative that will put instruments back in the hands of those who lost them due to the storm. The exact, or comparable instrument.

This effort is called ReString Appalachia.

Whether you're a professional, or picking for the love of it, the importance of continuing the living tradition of Appalachian music culture is paramount, and American Songcatcher aims to keep it that way.

Over the next month, you're going to see 100's of musicians, non profits, venues, festivals, actors, artists and media outlets post about ReString Appalachia.

If you, or someone you know lost an instrument due to Helene, if you have instruments to donate, or if you are seeking a tax-exempt donation to help us cover the costs, please visit the link in the show notes.

American Songcatcher will be back very soon with a very special live episode on Western North Carolina music history.

Thank you for listening. Here's to the songs of old, may they live on forever.

www.americansongcatcher.com/ReStringAppalachia

Today on the program, we’re proud to present the story behind the most widely recorded murder ballad in American history, the true St. Louis story of "Frankie and Johnny." Johnny’s real name was Albert, and though the phrase "He was doin’ her wrong” has been the constant refrain, the depiction of Frankie Baker has always been one of a vengeful murderess - rather than murder in self defense - and she fought nearly her entire life to change that narrative. For over 100 years, the song has continued to be recorded with many false depictions, and in this story, you’ll hear how it all unfolded and became such a hallmark murder ballad in American music history.

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Credits: Ryan Eastridge - Research, Writing 

Teddy Chipouras - Editing

Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, editing, recording and distribution

References:

“A Brief History of St. Louis.” City of St. Louis. 

Cellania, Miss. “The Story Behind ‘Frankie and Johnny.’” Mental Floss. May 3, 2016. 

Demain, Bill. “Ten Days in a Madhouse: The Woman Who Got Herself Committed.” Mental Floss. May 2, 2011.

Edwards, Bill. “Rags and Pieces by Scott Joplin, 1895-1905.” June 6, 2009. 

“‘Frankie’ of Famed Song Dies at 75.” Stockton Evening and Sunday Record. January 10, 1952. 

“Frankie and Johnny (1966).” IMDB.

“Frankie and Johnny (1991).” IMDB. 

 Huston, John. Frankie and Johnny. 1930. 

John, Finn J. D. “’Johnny’s’ Frankie lived in P-town, hiding from song.” Offbeat Oregon History website. April 1, 2021. 

Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries & University Museums. “Frankie and Johnny, or, You’ll Miss Me in the Days to Come.” The Lester S. Levy Sheet Music Collection. 

Kloppe, Adam. “Tom Turpin’s Rosebud Café.” Here’s History Podcast. October 16, 2023. 

Knox, Martha. “Words on Woodcuts” blog. March 26, 2016. 

Lomax, John A., Lomax, Alan. American Ballads and Folk Songs. The Macmillan Company, New York. 1934. pgs. 103-110. 

Morgan, Stacey. Frankie and Johnny: Race, Gender, and the Works of African American Folklore in the 1930s. University of Texas Press. 2017. pg. 20. 

“Murder Ballads (A Visit to a Bad Neighborhood part 2).” Riverside Blues Society. 

New York Public Library for The Performing Arts, Archives and Manuscripts. “Jack Kirkland papers, 1928-1969.”

Oswald, Charles J.; Kurres, Richard. “It’s Frankie and Albert Instead of Frankie and Johnny.” Lakeland Ledger. May 29, 1975. 

Polenberg, Richard. Hear My Sad Story: The True Tales that Inspired Stagolee, John Henry, and Other Traditional American Folk Songs. Cornell University Press. 2015. 

Richardson, Ethel Park; edited and arranged by Sigmund Spaeth. American Mountain Songs. Greenberg Publishing, New York. 1927. pgs. 38, 107. 

Sandberg, Carl. The American Songbag. Harcourt Brace & Company. 1927. pgs. 73-75. 

Slade, Paul. “It’s a Frame-Up: Frankie & Johnny.” 

Slade, Paul. Unprepared to Die: America’s Greatest Murder Ballads and the Stories that Inspired Them. Soundcheck Books LLP, London. 2015. 

“Soundtrack: ‘Frankie & Johnny.’” Our St. Louis History. April 20, 2018.  

St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 24, 1995. pg. 39. 

Today, I’m sharing a conversation I had with Grammy-nominated folk singer, storyteller, humanitarian, author and multi-virtuoso-instrumentalist John McCutcheon. During his five-decade career, John has released 44 albums spanning an eclectic catalog of ballads, historical songs, children's songs, love songs, topical satire, fiddle and hammer dulcimer instrumentals, and even symphonic works. He is regarded as a master of the hammered dulcimer, and is also proficient on many other instruments including guitar, banjo, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, fiddle, and jaw harp, and has received six Grammy Award nominations for his children’s songs. I got to know a bit of John’s story early on, his evolution as a preservationist and what its been like to be an ambassador for as long as he has, what he’s up to these days, and of course some geeking out on music history. Enjoy!

More on John:

Official Website

Facebook

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Credits: 

Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, editing, recording and distribution

Today on the program, we present the story behind the Father of Soul, Sam Cooke. Growing up in the church, Sam knew he wanted to be a singer by the time he was five years old. There was a magnetic and infectious quality to this young Gospel singer, and he knew he was destined for bigger things than singing sacred music. The risk he took in becoming a pop singer was massive, but it produced the first records of what is now known as Soul music. Sam also was a pioneer when it came to being savvy about the music business, owning his own publishing company, negotiating contracts, and creating a container to nurture up and coming soul singers. At the height of the civil rights movement, and the pinnacle of his career, Sam’s life was cut short. Here is his story. 

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Credits: Jonah Nordeen - Research, Writing 

Teddy Chipouras - Editing

Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, Editing, Recording and Distribution

References:

Campbell, L. E. (2013, February 16). Jesus Gave Me Water. Archive. Today. 

DeCurtis, A., Henke, J., & George-Warren, H. (Eds.). (1992). The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll: The definitive history of the most important artists and their music (3rd ed). Random House.

Guralnick, P. (2005). Dream boogie: The triumph of Sam Cooke (1st ed). Little, Brown.

James, E., & Ritz, D. (2003). Rage to survive: The Etta James story (2. ed). Da Capo.

Ritz, D. (2022). Sam Cooke. In Encyclopedia Britannica. 

Robinson, L. (1964, December 31). Tragedy-Filled Life of Singer Sam Cooke. Jet, XXVII(13), 56–65.

Runtagh, J. (2021, January 21). Why Mystery Still Shrouds Singer Sam Cooke’s Shooting Death Nearly 60 Years Later. People. 

Documentaries:

Two Killings of Sam Cooke - Netflix

Who Murdered Soul?

The Sam Cooke Story. (2018, July 15). YouTube. 

Wharton, M. (Director). (1996). Legend [Documentary]. Amazon Prime.

Today on the program, through our host public radio station WNCW in Spindale, NC, we’re sharing one of our favorite cultural podcasts, called Southern Songs and Stories, a documentary series about the music of the American south and the artists who make it. The show is based in western North Carolina and the surrounding Appalachian and foothill regions, covering a wide array of musicians and bands, documenting the current music of the South and the story of how it came to be, put together by host and producer Joe Kendrick. 

This episode features a niche style, born from the long lineage of hymns and gospel songs that has been informing so many genres of American music since as early as the 18th century. Gospel music has tremendous depth and width, and here, the story focuses on one of its many branches, a little known tradition thriving in places like Washington D.C. and Charlotte, NC: the trombone shout band.    

Links:

Southern Songs & Stories

WNCW Radio

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Credits: 

Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, editing, recording and distribution