Search Results for: pete seeger

Barbara Dane’s Cool Musical Legacy: “Wild Woman,” “Gasser,” “Hard-Hitter”

Folk, blues, and jazz singer Barbara Dane was born in Detroit on May 12, 1927.  Smithsonian Folkways recently released a retrospective of the singer and political activist who has worked with many musical giants of the 1950s, 1960s, and beyond. In her long career, Dane performed and recorded with artists such as Louis Armstrong, Memphis … Continue reading “Barbara Dane’s Cool Musical Legacy: “Wild Woman,” “Gasser,” “Hard-Hitter””

The Sounding Joy: A Refreshing Timeless Christmas Album

The Sounding Joy: Christmas Songs In and Out of the Ruth Crawford Seeger Songbook provides a wonderful alternative to the glossy over-used Christmas songs we hear every year. On the 2013 album, Elizabeth Mitchell, with a little help from her friends, provides a refreshing break from the commercialization of the holiday with songs taken from … Continue reading “The Sounding Joy: A Refreshing Timeless Christmas Album”

Billy Grammer and Buddy Holly’s Opening Song, “Gotta Travel On”

Buddy Holly opened shows on his final tour in 1959 with “Gotta Travel On” a song that was not one of his originals.  Crickets drummer Jerry Allison once was asked why Holly performed the song so much.  He explained, “Because Buddy liked it.” I’ve laid around and played around, This old town too long; Summer’s … Continue reading “Billy Grammer and Buddy Holly’s Opening Song, “Gotta Travel On””

Mississippi John Hurt: “Lonesome Valley”

Mississippi John Hurt was reportedly born in Carroll County, Mississippi on July 3, 1893.  But some sources, including his gravestone, say his date of birth is March 8, 1892. Born in the nineteenth century less than thirty years after the end of the Civil War, Hurt lived to see the start of the Civil Rights … Continue reading “Mississippi John Hurt: “Lonesome Valley””

Elizabeth Cotten: “Freight Train”

Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten was born on January 5, 1895 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, although some sources list the year of her birth as 1893. Cotten began playing the banjo at the age of eight and soon thereafter turned to the guitar and at the age of twelve wrote “Freight Train,” a timeless folk song … Continue reading “Elizabeth Cotten: “Freight Train””