“The boy with the hundred year old voice” Dr. Ralph Stanley grew up in the hills of Southwest Virginia during the Great Depression. He and his brother Carter were heavily inspired by The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and Bill Monroe, who The Stanley Brothers would feud with decades later. Radio was king, and The Stanley Brothers became a household name throughout Appalachia by merciless appearances. Hear the story of how this farmhand persisted through waves of personal and career hardships, always staying true and believing in the old-time country music he played until becoming the international patriarch of traditional mountain music.

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Credits:

Ryan Eastridge - Writing

Source Credits:

Musical Holdouts

CMT.com

The Stanley Brothers’ Story 1969

Man of Constant Sorrow: My Life and Times

Appalshop 

Clinch Mountain Echo

Ralph Stanley Museum

Arts.Gov

Featured in this Episode:

Traditional - Whiskey in the Jar

Billie Holiday

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

Charlie Parr

Support American Songcatcher:

Teaser:

Arguably the most popular Irish drinking song has a more unique origin than being sung at the pub, celebrating the spirit of Whiskey. She’s one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time, yet her personal life was ripe with adversity from family, abusive relationships, and a war with the United States Government over a song. They blurred the lines for white and black audiences alike through the 60’s revival as a duo, yet both men’s legacies stand on their own footing. A man redefining the definitions of independent success, overcoming each obstacle thrown at him while reviving fingerpicking styles of Piedmont and Delta blues.

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Credits:

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

Jack Browning - Writing

Source Credits:

Whiskey in the Jar | Irish Central | Accordeon World | Keston Primary | AV Club

Billie Holiday | Ronnie Deschepper | Downbeat | Woman Around Town | Flood Mag | Legacy | Learning English | ASU | EOnline | PBS

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee | All About Blues | Early Blues | Keeping the Blues Alive | Arts.Gov | Blues & Country | Black History Now

Charlie Parr | Country Blues | Official | Minnesota Monthly | Erica Rivera | First Avenue | Kennedy Center | Issue Magazine

Today I'm sharing a conversation I had with American roots singer and guitarist Seth Walker, who has spent the last 20 years putting out incredibly diverse records, inspired by early blues to jazz, folk, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, early country and anything else he's been able to gobble up.

Recently mentored by the likes of Oliver Wood and the Wood Brothers, Seth just released his 11th studio record, titled I Hope I Know, a tasty, seasoned array of roots songs that navigate a host of emotions and comforts, a record I highly suggest listening to, courtesy of Royal Potato Family Records.

We talked about his unique childhood, raised among a community of Quakers, the constant evolution of self and artistry, his love for writing not just music but a recent book titled Your Van is on Fire, his newest record and the deep changes that surfaced before, during and after, and as usual, we geeked out on some music history. Enjoy!

More on Seth Walker:

Listen

Book

Socials : Instagram | Facebook

Watch

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• Join the Patreon
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Featured in this Episode:

Johnny Cash

Teaser:

The finale of this three part series on "The Man in Black" starts in the 70’s, when Johnny’s turnaround gets traction through learning to be a father, his activism and overtly religious period, several relapses of his addiction, the fall from Columbia Records, and his rise with Rick Rubin before passing away, as well as his legacy.

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"Shine A Light" | Johnny Cash: The Life

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Credits:

Source Credits:

Johnny Cash: The Life | The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash | Official | Grunge | Biography | Live About | Achievement.org | Cheat Sheet | Britannica | Slate | Far Out Magazine | LA Times | Daily Mail UK | The Jamboree That Never Was | Outsider | Rolling Stone | The Boot | Taste of Country

Featured in this Episode:

Johnny Cash

Teaser:

The story of the enigmatic "Man in Black" is a vast ocean that is impossible to cover every detail. But this three part series will attempt to further explain what listeners know about Johnny Cash, debunk a few myths, and uncover fascinating moments in his life that are lesser known. In essence, we'll be looking further behind the curtain of the legend known as JR Cash, more than exceptional movies such as "Walk the Line" have portrayed.

Part 2 presents Johnny's rise with Sun Records, the tumultuous years of his personal life and addiction, his turnaround, and when he first cleans up his act as a star.

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Collaboration | Basic Folk Podcast

"Shine A Light" | Johnny Cash: The Life

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Support Independent Programming!

• Join the Patreon
• Send a one-time donation through Venmo or PayPal

Credits: Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, writing, editing, recording and distribution

Source Credits:

Johnny Cash: Johnny Cash: The Life | The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash | Official | Washington Post | Live About | Britannica | Town and Country | History.com | KHQA | Biography | VC Star | El Paso Times | Classic Country | Culture Trip

Featured in this Episode:

Johnny Cash

Teaser:

The story of the enigmatic “Man in Black” is a vast ocean that is impossible to cover and give every detail. But this three part series will attempt to further explain what listeners may think they know about Johnny Cash, broaden the understanding of his personal life, and uncover fascinating moments in his career that are lesser known, misunderstood, or flat out wild. In essence, we’ll be looking WAY behind the curtain of the legend known as JR Cash, far more than even exceptional movies such as “Walk the Line” have portrayed.  

In Part 1, we'll navigate Johnny’s childhood, teenage years, and his initial rise with Sun Records.

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Support Independent Programming

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Collaboration | Basic Folk Podcast 

"Shine A Light" | Johnny Cash: The Life

Follow American Songcatcher 

Credits:

Source Credits:

Johnny Cash: Johnny Cash: The Life | The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash | Official | Grunge | Biography | Live About | Achievement.org | Cheat Sheet | Britannica | Action 5 News

Celebrating Black History Month!

Featured in this Episode:

Traditional - "Stagger Lee" (:42)

Memphis Minnie (15:45)

Lightnin' Hopkins (29:21)

Taj Mahal (48:55)

Teaser:

This notorious murder story has been covered in more genres, by more artists and across more multi-media platforms than any other in history, while somehow remaining relatively obscure. She's known as the queen of the country blues, and queen of the Chicago blues, though she got her start while homeless and playing on the streets full time in Memphis. One of the last links that remained of the original country blues past the folk and blues revival, this Texas bluesman's personal life was shrouded in mystery during both pinnacles in his near 60-year career. Born of Caribbean descent, he would go on to be a liaison between cultures and sounds from all over the world, wrapping it all into a tight package that makes the blues feel like an altogether human experience.

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Collaboration | Basic Folk Podcast

"Shine A Light" | Blues Foundation

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Support Independent Programming | Join the Patreon or send a one-time donation through Venmo or PayPal

Credits:

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

Jack Browning - Writer

Ryan Eastridge - Writer

Source Credits:

Stagger Lee: Missouri Life | StaggerLee.com | American Blues Scene | StLouis-mo.gov

Memphis Minnie: Black Past | Musicians Guide | 64 Parishes

Lightnin' Hopkins: Black Past | | Texas Monthly | Udiscovermusic | THSA.org

Taj Mahal: Berklee Interview | Harlem World Magazine | Hawaii Public Radio | New York Times

Today on the program, I'm pleased to bring you a very special episode through American Songcatcher, sharing a wonderful podcast called Basic Folk in our feed. Now some of you may already be aware of these in-depth, honest interviews with host Cindy Howes, but I feel like the rest of you should get on board!

Sure, there are many conversational podcasts out there, but Basic Folk sets itself apart with honest and complex conversations about the human experience witnessed from an artistic angle. Cindy's questions are not only well-researched and carefully crafted, but the artists featured are among the most revered in the American roots music scene today, some of which have been covered or will be covered by this podcast, including Amethyst Kiah, Oliver Wood, Tom Rush, Alison Russell and several others.

One of Cindy and I's favorite musicians, Chris Thile, stopped by Basic Folk several months back, and it seemed apropos to share their conversation since he was covered in Episode 1 of Season 2. Be sure to subscribe to Basic Folk wherever you get your podcasts!

We'll be back with Episode 5 in two weeks!

BF Links:

Spotify

Apple Music

Official Site

Instagram

Facebook

About Basic Folk:

Basic Folk is a podcast with honest conversations between musicians and Cindy Howes, a well-versed public radio host and music curator, and guest host Lizzie No, a talented singer/songwriter. Basic Folk approaches interviews with warmth, humor and insightful questions. This podcast fosters the folk community and showcases a genre that is often misunderstood. Basic Folk features complex conversations about the human experience witnessed from an artistic angle. Our definition of "folk" is extremely broad, so you'll hear interviews from Amythyst Kiah, Tom Rush, The Lumineers and many more.

Basic Folk is dedicated to showcasing the best in folk and roots musicians including BIPOC musicians who have been excluded, or felt like they did not belong, in the folk world. Both Cindy and Lizzie bring unique perspectives to our honest conversations and are dedicated to changing the landscape and the gatekeepers of the folk music community.

Featured in this Episode:

Jean Ritchie (:28)

Ola Belle Reed (17:48)

Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard (35:41)

Alison Krauss (55:54)

Teaser:

Her family is considered one of the wealthiest in the ballad tradition, preserving hundreds of songs from their lineage to Scotland in their home of Kentucky, and is single-handedly responsible for bringing the Appalachian dulcimer to prominence in America. Born in the mountains of North Carolina, she paved the way for both bluegrass music and old-time with her brother through their pioneering work at music parks, on the radio, and during the folk revival. They’re considered the first women to front a bluegrass band, and in their wake are generations of women thanks to their contributions. A child prodigy, she was signed to Rounder Records at 14 and now is one of the most decorated bluegrass and female musicians of all time, still turning heads today with her many collaborations.

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"Shine A Light" | Pretty Good For a Girl: Women in Bluegrass by Murphy Hicks Henry

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Support | Join Patreon or send a one-time donation: Venmo // PayPal

Source Credits:

Jean Ritchie: KET | Library of Congress | NPR

Ola Belle Reed: Blue Ridge Heritage | Arts.gov | NC Pedia | SML

Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard: NY Times | Folkstreams | Official | BG Hall of Fame | Pinecone | Birthplace of Country Music

Alison Krauss: NPR | Britannica | Grammy |  NY Times

Season 2, Episode 3 // God's Golden Shore

Featured in this Episode:

Traditional - "Man of Constant Sorrow" (:28)

Ma Rainey (13:08)

Bill Monroe (31:40)

Patsy Cline (51:29)

Bruce Molsky (1:08:17)

Teaser:

Thought to be rooted in the early hymns brought to America, this old-time folk song has reveled in the spotlight more than once in the roots music community, especially after being featured in the 2000 film "O' Brother Where Art Thou." A defining voice of the 1920's and 1930's, this female artist wrote the book on fashion, songwriting, and entrepreneurship while harnessing the soul of the blues in some of the earliest recordings of the genre. Dubbed the Father and creator of Bluegrass music, this mandolin aficionado learned how to weave the blues with old-time with piercing tenor mountain harmonies and blistering fast tempos. A life taken too soon, this woman's voice epitomized country music for nearly a decade, and inspired generations of singers in her wake, even until today. A scholar, teacher and virtuosic fiddle and banjo player, he's a quintessential "musician's musician" and is widely considered among the premier ambassadors of America's old-time mountain music.

⁠Listen to my new traditional record: FOLK SONGS FOR OLD TIMES' SAKE

Performances:

"Man of Constant Sorrow" - Traditional (10:14)

"Prove It On Me Blues" - Ma Rainey (28:26)

"In the Pines" - Traditional (47:50)

"Walkin' After Midnight" 1:06:20

"Red Rocking Chair" | 1:20:48

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"Shine A Light" | Cultural Equity

Follow American Songcatcher | Instagram

Support Independent Programming | Join the Patreon or send a one-time donation through Venmo or PayPal Source Credits:

Traditional: Black Deer Festival | American Songwriter

Ma Rainey: Women's HIstory | National Museum AAH | Black Past

Bill Monroe: Folkways | Britannica | Alan Cackett | Bluegrass HOF

Patsy Cline: Grunge | Biography | Britannica

Bruce Molsky: Official | WBUR | Banjo News