When I was a teenager in Eastern Pennsylvania in the 1960s I was a dedicated reader of Sing Out! Magazine. I couldn't always afford to buy a copy but the music store where I took guitar lessons let me read each new issue as I waited for my bus home. I also loved the reprints from Sing Out! and usually bought those when they came out. They helped me become more aware of the folk music revival and many contemporary artists. I first heard of Woody Guthrie from the pages of those reprints. I had an LP of some of his classic recordings and was aware of Bob Dylan's “Song to Woody” when I read of his passing in the pages of Sing Out! in 1967. “Home in this World,” is a collection of new renditions of some of his Dust Bowl ballads, on Elektra Records. We'll celebrate that recording with selections from the new CD mixed with classic versions of Woody's Songs and songs about him … this week on the Sing Out! Radio Magazine.Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways Milnes and Hammond / “Sandy River Belle” / Hell Up Coal Holler / ShanachieShovels and Rope / “Dust Bowl Blues” / Home in this World-Woody Guthrie's Dust Bowl Ballads / ElektraWoody Guthrie / “Talking Dust Bowl Blues” / The Ultimate Collection / Not NowJohn McCutcheon / “Ludlow Massacre” / This Land: Woody Guthrie's America / AppalsongsThe Duhks / “Pretty Boy Floyd-Stoney Point” / Your Daughters & Your Sons / Sugar HillRamblin' Jack Elliot / “New York Town” / Jack Elliot Sings Songs of Woody Guthrie / Prestige-FolkloreRy Cooder / “Jesus and Woody” / The Prodigal Son / FantasyMilnes and Hammond / “Red Buck-Jodie-West Fork Girls” / Hell Up Coal Holler / ShanachieWatkins Family Hour / “Blowin' Down this Dusty Road” / Home in this World-Woody Guthrie's Dust Bowl Ballads / ElektraWoody Guthrie w/ Cisco Houston / “Train Ride Medley Part 1&2” / Long Ways to Travel / Smithsonian FolkwaysThe Maddox Brothers & Rose / “Philadelphia Lawyer” / Vol.1 / ArhoolieWill Geer / “Reading Woody Guthrie” / Folkways The Original Vision / Smithsonian FolkwaysPete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways 

On the program this time around we celebrate my very favorite season - Autumn - with a collection of classic and recent recordings which bring to mind falling leaves and cooler temperatures. How about Ranchwriters, Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, Martin Simpson, The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc for a start, and then lots more. Grab some cider and spice cookies and enjoy some songs of the season … this week on the Sing Out! Radio Magazine.Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways Ranch Writers / “Marble Canyon Rag” / Ranch Writers / True NorthJudy Collins / “Who Know Where the Time Goes” / Who Knows Where the Time Goes / ElektraBen Winship / “Shakin' Down the Acorns” / Acorns / Snake RiverMartin Simpson / “October Song” / Home Recordings / TopicThe Nordic Fiddlers Bloc / “Bonfrost” / Bonfrost / Self-producedJoni Mitchell / “Urge for Going” / Hits / RepriseOld Man Luedecke / “Real Wet Wood” / Domestic Eccentric / True NorthNew Grass Revival / “Going to the Fair” / Barren County / Flying FishRanch Writers / “Bonaparte Plateau” / Ranch Writers / True NorthSally Rogers / “Old Father Fall” / In the Circle of the Sun / Flying FishPaul Brown / “Summer's Almost Gone” / Red Clay Country / 5-StringTim O'Brien / “The Apple Press-The Apple Cart” / Two Journeys / Howdy SkiesChris Kokesh / “Planting a Garden in October” / October Valentine / Self-producedGalax Bogtrotters / “October Morning” / Old-Time Jubilations / DittyvillePete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Last week on our program we featured traditional musicians who have acted as mentors to younger players. This week we'll focus on some of the musicians who have benefited from their attention. We'll hear from Stephen Wade, Hannah Shira Naiman, The Early Mays, Jake Blount, The Gilded Bats, Carla Gover and lots more. Traditional music and those who carry it on … this week on The Sing Out Radio Magazine.Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian FolkwaysStephen Wade / “Wild Horse” / Across the Amerikee / Smithsonian FolkwaysBowhunter / “Valley Forge & Banks of the Ohio” / Right Hands Round / Self-producedHannah Shira Naiman / “Willow” / Tether My Heart / MerriweatherThe Moon Shells / “Sally in the Rye” / Seaside Asylum / Self-producedJohn Gallagher & Scott Prouty / “Big Hoedown” / No Corn on Tygart / Self-producedThe Early Mays / “Dear Companion” / The Early Mays / Bird on the WingPopcorn Behavior / “The Old and in the Way Riff” / Strangest Dream / Self-producedJake Blount / “Blackbird Says to the Crow” / Spider Tales / Free DirtStephen Wade / “Uncle Dave's Fandango” / Across the Amerikee / Smithsonian FolkwaysAllison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves / “Beaufort County Jail” / Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves / Free DirtThe Gilded Bats / “Cumberland Gap” / The Gilded Bats / Self-producedGailanne Amundsen / “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” / You've Been a Friend to Me / Dirty FeetAll Day Breakfast Stringband / “Half Irish” / Shanghai / Self-producedCarla Gover / “Sweet Fern” / Hush My Restless Soul / June AppalPete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

For this episode, we feature some musicians who have acted as mentors to young traditional musicians. We'll hear from Dwight Diller, Mike Seeger, Val Mindel & Emily Miller, Alice Gerrard, Norman Blake and many more. Dewey Balfa always said that a culture is preserved one generation at a time, so we'll pay it forward … this week on the Sing Out! Radio Magazine.Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian FolkwaysOld Buck / “Mike in the Wilderness” / Old Buck / Tin HaloDwight Diller / “Waynesboro” / W Va Mountain Music:Harvest / Yew PineMike Seeger / “Little Birdie” / Southern Banjo Sounds / Smithsonian FolkwaysAny Old Time Stringband / “Turkey Buzzard-Chinquapin Hunting” / I Bid You Goodnight / ArhoolieVal Mindel & Emily Miller / “Gone Home” / Close to Home / Yodel-Ay-HeeMarcus Martin / “Gray Eagle” / When I Get My New House Done / University of North CarolinaTommy Jarrell / “John Brown's Dream” / Legends of Old-Time Music / CountyTommy Jarrell / “Greasy String” / Legends of Old-Time Music / CountyJimmy Triplett / “Piney Woods” / Natural History / BemlarOld Buck / “Highlander's Farewell” / Old Buck / Tin HaloCraver, Hicks, Watson & Newberry / “Sally Ann” / You've Been a Friend to Me / BarkerPete Sutherland / “Pioneer Children Sang as they Walked-ye ke ke” / Streak O' Lean / EpactAlice Gerrard / “Wild Hog in the Woods” / Big Bend Killing / Great Smoky Mountains AssociationDon Pedi / “Old Black Cat Couldn't Catch a Rat” / Short Time Here / Walnut Mountain The Pilot Mountain Bobcats / “Sugar Hill” / Dance By the Light of the Moon / Yodel-Ay-HeeNorman Blake / “Whistling Rufus” / Green Light on the Southern / PlectraphonePete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

In early September each year we celebrate Labor Day. Many in the United States consider Labor Day as simply the end of summer, forgetting the great contributions to our daily life that have occurred due to the efforts of the labor movement to organize the American workers. We will feature songs about organizations and occupations from Emma's Revolution, Anne Feeney, Si Kahn, and Diana Jones, among others. Songs for a Labor Day celebration … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine. Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways Three Bean Salad / “Field Assignment” / Acoustic Potluck / Self-producedWindborne / “Which Side Are You On” / Song on the Times / Self-producedSteeleye Span / “Blackleg Miner” / Back in Line / ShanachiePete Seeger / “He Lies in the American Land” / The Complete Bowdoin College Concert 1960 / Smithsonian FolkwaysSi Kahn / “Houses On the Hill” / Been a Long Time / Sliced BreadJohn McCutcheon / “Laz'rus” / Stand Up! / AppalseedDiana Jones / “Appalachia” / Coal Country Music / HeartwoodHazel Dickens / “Coal Tatoo” / Coal Mining Women / RounderThree Bean Salad / “Red Bird-Second Shift” / Acoustic Potluck / Self-producedLouie Fuller and Chorus / “Hopping Down in Kent” / Rhythms of Labor / PrivateCyril Tawney / “The Oggie Man” / Navy Cuts / ADAThe Furrow Collective / “The Cabin Boy” / Fathoms / HudsonWillard Gayheart & Friends / “The Workin'” / At Home in the Blue Ridge / Blue HensAnne Feeney / “We Just Come to Work Here, We Don't Come to Die” / Classic Labor Songs / Smithsonian FolkwaysEmma's Revolution / “Stand Together” / RPM / Moving Forward MusicFlorence Reese / “Which Side Are You On?” / Coal Mining Women / RounderPete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways 

The words innovation and bluegrass haven't always gone well together. However, there have been some players who desire to color outside of the lines. This week on the program we explore some recent bluegrass innovators and offer a review of the recording “Hell on Church Street” from Punch Brothers, today's foremost groundbreaking acoustic ensemble. We'll also feature music from some exciting performers - classics from Skyline and The Tony Rice Unit, recent recordings from The Yonder Mountain Stringband, Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, Kristin Scott Benson and others. Recent bluegrass innovators shine … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian FolkwaysKristin Scott Benson / “Eagle Eye Annie” / Stringworks / Mountain HomeSkyline / “Stranded in the Moonlight” / Ticket Back: A Retrospective / Flying FishBarbara Lamb / “Fiddle Piggy” / Fiddle Piggy / Lots of CoffeeWood & Wire / “Kingpin” / North of Despair / Blue CornTony Rice Unit / “Manzanita” / Manzanita / RounderYonder Mountain String Band / “Broken Records” / Get Outside Yourself / Frog PadRailroad Earth / “Runnin' Wild” / All For the Song / Self-producedKristin Scott Benson / “Great Waterton” / Stringworks / Mountain HomePunch Brothers / “Church Street Blues” / Hell on Church Street / NonesuchPunch Brothers / “The Gold Rush” / Hell on Church Street / NonesuchPunch Brothers / “House Carpenter-Jerusalem Ridge” / Hell on Church Street / NonesuchLeftover Salmon / “Boogie Grass Band” / Brand New Good Old Days / CompassSam Bush & David Grisman / “Hold On, I'm Comin'” / Hold On, We're Strummin' / Acoustic DiscPete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Well, hurricane season is upon us, but so many recent storms and disasters are more devastating in nature. I'm thinking of a great friend who lives in Hawaii – and I was so pleased to hear that he was safe and well, despite the fires within thirty miles of his home. So we dedicate this week's archival program to J.P. On the program we'll sample music with a focus on natural disaster. Included in the episode we'll have music from The Duhks, The Bucking Mules, Jennifer Johnson, Tony Joe White, John McCutcheon and others. The great storm is over … this week on the Sing Out! Radio Magazine.Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways Grey Larsen & Malcolm Dalglish / “Thunderhead” / Thunderhead / Flying FishThe Duhks / “Mighty Storm” / Fast Paced World / Sugar HillBen Townsend & Friends / “Roaring River” / Deep End Sessions Vol.3 / Deep End SessionsOlabelle & David Reed / “Boats Up the River” / Third Annual Farewell Reunion / RounderDavid Grier / “Eye of the Hurricane” / Lone Soldier / RounderSteve Gillitte & Cindy Mangsen / “Tide and the River Rising” / A Sense of Place / RedwingThe Bucking Mules / “Fire On the Mountain” / Smoke Behind the Clouds / Free DirtJennifer Johnson / “Ready for the Storm” / My Secret Garden / Self-producedGrey Larsen & Malcolm Dalglish / “The Stormy Night-Glen Helen” / Thunderhead / Flying FishTim O'Brien Band / “Wind” / Tim O'Brien Band / Howdy SkiesRob Lutes / “Lightning” / Come Around / Lucky BearTony Joe White / “The Flood” / Hoodoo / Yep Roc-SwampRed State Ramblers / “Katrina” / Made in the Shade / Sugar HillJohn McCutcheon / “The Great Storm is Over” / Water from Another Time / RounderPete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

This week we complete our two-part feature focusing on honky tonk music. We'll hear from Asleep at the Wheel, Connie Smith, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Adolph Hofner, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Commander Cody, JJ Cale and lots more. Guitars, Cadillacs and walkin' after midnight… this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian FolkwaysAsleep at the Wheel / “The Wheel Boogie” / Half a Hundred Years / BismeauxConnie Smith / “Look Out Heart” / The Cry of The Heart / Fat PossumThe Flying Burrito Brothers / “Sin City” / The Gilded Palace of Sin / A+MThe Western Swing Authority / “Miss Molly” / Now Playing / CurveDwight Yoakam / “Guitars, Cadillacs” / Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars... / Sugar HillLoretta Lynn / “I'm a Honky Tonk Girl” / Essential Honky Tonk / Not NowAdolph Hofner & his Texans / “South Texas Swing” / South Texas Swing / ArhooliePatsy Cline / “Walkin' After Midnight” / Essential Honky Tonk / Not NowThe Amazing Rhythm Aces / “Third Rate Romance” / Stacked Deck / ABCAsleep at the Wheel / “Spanish Two-Step” / Half a Hundred Years / BismeauxErwin Helfer / “Stop Time Boogie” / 8 Hands on 88 Keys / The SirensJohnny Horton / “Honky Tonk Man” / Essential Honky Tonk / Not NowCommander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen / “Hot Rod Lincoln” / True Adventures / Fuel 2000Delbert McClinton / “The Real Thing” / I'm With You / CurbJ.J. Cale / “Call Me the Breeze” / Naturally / ShelterElvis Presley / “Don't Be Cruel” / Elvis 56 / RCARodney Crowell / “She's Crazy for Leaving” / Diamonds & Dirt / Columbia LegacyPete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

The audience for country music in the years following World War II was predominently male and many of the records were aimed at the juke boxes that thrived in the bars and watering holes where this working class audience gathered. This week on the program we'll sample some classic honky tonk music from the late 30's until today. We'll hear Kitty Wells, Hank Snow, Buck Owens, Webb Pierce and, of course, Hank Williams. We'll also hear more contemporary tunes from The Byrds, Emmylou Harris and Asleep at the Wheel. “There Stands the Glass” and some honky tonk angels … this week on the Sing Out! Radio Magazine.Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways Don Rich / “Buckeroo” / Country Pickin': The Don Rich Anthology / SundazedThe Byrds / “You're Still on My Mind” / Sweetheart of the Rodeo / ColumbiaHank Williams / “Honky Tonk Blues” / 40 Greatest Hits / PolydorJean Shepard /with Ferlon Husky / “A Dear John Letter” / Super Hits / GustoEmmylou Harris & the Nash Ramblers / “Two More Bottles of Wine” / Ramble in Music City / NonesuchBuddy Holly / “Midnight Shift” / The Definitive Collection / DeccaAsleep at the Wheel / “The Letter that Johnny Walker Read” / Half a Hundred Years / BismeauxVal Mindel & Emily Miller / “Lonely Street” / Close to Home / Yodel-Ay-HeeKitty Wells / “It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” / Essential Honky Tonk / Not NowRoger Miller / “Kansas City Star” / All Time Greatest Hits / MercuryDon Rich / “Chicken Pickin'” / Country Pickin': The Don Rich Anthology / SundazedVernon Solomon / “Beaumont Rag” / Texas Hoedown Revisited / CountyJess Willard / “Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor” / Hillbilly Boogie and Jive / AtomicatHank Snow / “I'm Moving On” / The Very Best of Hank Snow / BMGPatsy Montana / “Montana Plains” / Ragged But Right: Great Country String Bands of the 1930's / RCAMerle Haggard / “Mama Tried” / Live at Billy Bob's Texas / Smith Music GroupWebb Pierce / “There Stands the Glass” / King of the Honky Tonk / MCABuck Owens / “Under Your Spell Again” / Right After the Dance / AtomicatWillie Nelson / “Heartaches by the Number” / A Tribute to Ray Price / LegacyBill Doggett / “Honky Tonk pt.2” / Honky Tonk / Ace Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Bela Fleck released My Bluegrass Heart a while back, a massive collection of self-penned bluegrass instrumentals. It's a return to the music that initially established him as one of foremost performers on the 5-string banjo. This week we present The Banjo Special, featuring music from Bela Fleck's two CD package, as well as some of the finest banjo players from the past half century. It's a Banjo Special … this week on the Sing Out! Radio Magazine.Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways Nick Hornbuckle / “Cumberland Gap” / Twelve By Two (Plus or Minus One) / CorvusBela Fleck / “The Old North Woods” / My Bluegrass Heart / BMGNashville Bluegrass Band-Alan O'Bryant/ “I'll Just Keep On Loving You” / Home Of The Blues / Sugar HillJohn Hartford / “Gentle On My Mind” / Steamboat Whistle Blues / Radio BremenThe Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-John McKuen / “Clemente Opus 36” / Dirt Silver & Gold / BGOBill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band / “Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico” / Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band / RebelEmerson & Taylor / “Espanol” / Appaloosa / WebcoOld Man Luedecke / “Just Like a River” / Proof of Love / Black HenBela Fleck / “Hunky Dory” / My Bluegrass Heart / BMGNick Hornbuckle / “Yell in the Shoats” / Twelve By Two (Plus or Minus One) / CorvusJD Crowe & the New South / “Sally Goodin” / JD Crowe & the New South / RounderThe Osborne Brothers / “I Wonder Where You Are Tonight” / Dayton to Knoxville / PinecastleFlatt & Scruggs / “Earl's Breakdown” / Foggy Mountain Jamboree / ColumbiaRoger Sprung and Doc Watson / “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise” / Classic Bluegrass / Smithsonian FolkwaysBela Fleck / “Bum's Rush” / My Bluegrass Heart / BMGPete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways