Episode 29 – Jean Ritchie part 1 of 2 – Dr. Jones explores the life of folk singer and social worker Jean Ritchie with Dr. Kay Hoffman

Ep 29 –  Jean Ritchie part 1 of 2 – Dr. Jones explores the life of folk singer and social worker Jean Ritchie including her connection to the UK College of Social Work and an unaired interview segment with friend and former UKCoSW dean, Dr. Kay Hoffman

On the next two episodes (ep 29 & 30) we explore the life of folk singer and social worker Jean Ritchie. In this episode, we will talk about Jean’s history in connection to the University of Kentucky’s College of Social Work, including an unaired interview segment with the UK College of Social Work former Dean and faculty member, Dr. Kay Hoffman. Jason Johnston, our producer, and I are big fans of Jean’s music and we will pay tribute to her by playing and singing a few of her songs. Please visit https://socialwork.uky.edu/jeanritchie for a special dedication page to Jean, with pictures, links, and full Mp3 downloads of the songs you have heard.

Ep 29 Track List and Music Links

1. Barbary Allen by Jean Ritchie from British Traditional Ballads in the Southern Mountains, Volume 1 © Folkways

2. The L & N Don’t Come Here Anymore – Blake & Jason

3. Wayfaring Stranger – Blake & Jason

4. Hangman by Jean Ritchie from British Traditional Ballads in the Southern Mountains, Volume 1 © Folkways

5. Blackwaters by Blake & Jason

6. Pretty Saro by Blake & Jason

7. Shady Grove by Jean Ritchie from Marching Across The Green Grass and Other American Children’s Game Songs © Folkways 1968

More resources:

Wonderful Tribute

More bibliography from KET

UK Alumni Page

About Jean’s social work practice

Alan Lomax Recordings

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TRANSCRIPT

Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcription and may contain errors. Please check the full audio podcast in context before quoting in print.

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Episode 29 – Jean Ritchie part 1 of 2 – Dr. Jones explores the life of folk singer and social worker Jean Ritchie w/ Dr. Kay Hoffman

[00:00:02] Hello and welcome to the social work Conversations podcast produced by the University of Kentucky College of Social Work. My name is Blake Jones. Here we explore the intersection of social work research practice and education. Our goal is to showcase the amazing people associated with our college and to give our listeners practical tools that they can use to change the world.

[00:01:15] On the next two episodes we explore the life of folk singer and social worker Jean Ritchie. In this episode, we will talk about Jean’s history in connection to the University of Kentucky’s College of Social Work. Jason Johnston, our producer, and I are big fans of Jean’s music and we will pay tribute to her by playing and singing a few of her songs. So sit back relax and enjoy this exploration of a Kentucky treasure: Jean Ritchie.

[00:01:51]

[00:02:50] Blake Narration:

Jean was born on December 8, 1922, in Viper, Kentucky. Viper is in the coalfields of southeastern Kentucky. She was the youngest of 14 siblings, and she was one of ten girls who slept in just one room of the family’s farmhouse.

Jean was born into a very musical family, and this early appreciation of traditional ballads and folk music led her to carry the tradition on, not only in Kentucky but around the world. She performed with Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and many others.

Jean has been described as the “mother of folk music.” Her primary instrument, the mountain dulcimer, made a perfect backdrop for her lilting, high soprano voice. In the 1950s and ’60s, she became an international ambassador of traditional folk music, and her travels took her to the stages of Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival.

Jean was married to George Pickow, a folk musi