This episode explores the variations, history, and geography of the bluegrass song “The Roving Gambler.”

Host: Olivia Harding

Special thanks to: Ashford King, The Cecil Sharp House/Ralph Vaughan Williams Library, and Aaron J. Morton

Check out Basic Folk: https://basicfolk.com/

Listen to Ashford King: https://open.spotify.com/album/1IZwE0c1mzOQtd3nnWn8nE?si=A5AenKxXRvmAiM_duUVHPg

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Musical excerpts:

ARTIST: Doc Watson

WORK: The Roving Gambler

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhTcFh_jAnM

ARTIST: Larry Sparks

WORK: Roving Gambler

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVrfqvHVbdU

ARTIST: Albert Sallee

WORK: Roving Gambler

SOURCE: https://digitalcollections.uark.edu/digital/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/1771

ARTIST: Donna Everett

WORK: Roving Gambler

SOURCE: https://digitalcollections.uark.edu/digital/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/1221

ARTIST: Rambling Jack Elliott

WORK: Roving Gambler

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B5BHG5G1P8

ARTIST: The Corries

WORK: Roving Journeyman

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5LzHSci1Lg

ARTIST: Harry Brazil

WORK: Rambling Irishman

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDaC883iJjo

ARTIST: Tom Willett

WORK: The Roving Journeyman

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_DoReXQMRM

ARTIST: Delia Murphy

WORK: Roving Journeyman

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bztY9bHbbVA

ARTIST: Samantha Bumgarner

WORK: The Gamblin’ Man

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWfszrzc51Q&t=121s

ARTIST: Leroy Gardner

WORK: Gambling Man

SOURCE: https://digitalcollections.uark.edu/digital/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/2942

ARTIST: The Wolfe Tones

WORK: Paddy Lay Back

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QqpcENtS-s

ARTIST: Joan Baez

WORK: The Trees They Do Grow High

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh7Lcw0ZIWc

ARTIST: The Staple Singers

WORK: Move Along Train

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fdbij67yUs

ARTIST: Alison Krauss

WORK: Down to the River To Pray

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SZv7JJqcNY

ARTIST: Clancy Brothers and Robbie O’Connell

WORK: Moonshiner

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du8Naz_iAg4

ARTIST: Johnny Whistletrigger

WORK: Guerrilla Man

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB1OweaWbxc

ARTIST: Ashford King

WORK: Roving Gambler

SOURCE: https://open.spotify.com/track/5rkkQsz2EC9VaFTnAJWAHJ?si=213e5631c1a04ca0