http://www.downhomeradioshow.com Down Home Radio is a hardcore, unreconstructed, paleo-acoustic folk music program. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:24:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 ©Eli Smith eli_smith@hotmail.com (Eli Smith) eli_smith@hotmail.com Folk Music 1440 Folk music, blues, old-time, Field Recordings, Eli Smith, Banjo, Woody Guthrie, New Lost City Ramblers Old-time Blues, Pre-Blues, Gospel and Spirituals, Corridos, Latin America Folk Music, Field Recordings, Interviews, and more... Down Home Radio is a hardcore, unreconstructed, paleo-acoustic folk music program Eli Smith Eli Smith eli_smith@hotmail.com No no http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/images/dhrspostcard.jpg http://www.downhomeradioshow.com 144 144 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/05/interview-with-clifton-hicks/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/05/interview-with-clifton-hicks/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 03:49:48 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/?p=1069 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/05/interview-with-clifton-hicks/feed/ 1 00:01:01 On today's show I speak with Clifton Hicks, a great young banjo player originally from Florida and Georgia who now resides in Boone, NC.nbsp; I've ... On today's show I speak with Clifton Hicks, a great young banjo player originally from Florida and Georgia who now resides in Boone, NC.nbsp; I've known and known about Clif for a while now, ever since he sent in his home recordings to Down Home Radio.nbsp; I was blown away by his singing and playing and was very happy to finally meet him when I was in Boone at the Black Banjo Gathering in March.nbsp; Hicks is a protege of George Gibson and was kind enough to set up an interview for me with George which we heard on the last installment of Down Home Radio.nbsp; In this interview Clifton speaks about his family background and introduction to the music, gives some thoughtful notes on his style and technique as a musician and plays a bunch of tunes live on the show.nbsp; He also speaks about his experiences as a soldier in Iraq which led him to oppose the war and get involved with IVAW (Iraq Veterans Against the War).nbsp; Clifton Hicks is one of my favorite musicians and it was great to finally get him on the program.nbsp; He will be appearing at the Jalopy Theater on Saturday May 22nd as part of the Brooklyn Folk Festival.nbsp; Check it out! Below are some videos: Darling Cora Hicks testifies at the Winter Soldier hearings about his experiences in Iraq. Cuckoo Shows Eli Smith no No http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/05/interview-with-george-gibson/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/05/interview-with-george-gibson/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 03:02:39 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/?p=1057 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/05/interview-with-george-gibson/feed/ 0 00:01:01 (George Gibson [L] with Clifton Hicks [R]. Photo by E. Smith.) On today's show I speak with Eastern Kentucky banjo player George Gibson.nbsp; I was lucky ... (George Gibson [L] with Clifton Hicks [R]. Photo by E. Smith.) On today's show I speak with Eastern Kentucky banjo player George Gibson.nbsp; I was lucky enough to catch up with George when we were both participating in The Black Banjo Gathering at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC in March.nbsp; George hails from Knott County, Kentucky where he learned to play old-time banjo from his neighbors as well as from his father back in the early 1950's.nbsp; One of the local banjo players that George met growing up was "Banjo" Bill Cornett, one of my favorite musicians, so it was a thrill to get to hear a personal account of Banjo Bill.nbsp; George Gibson is a wonderful banjo player and singer and is also a noted banjo collector and historian of the music from his region.nbsp; He has served as a bridge between the old generation of musicians such as Banjo Bill, who's music and culture was dying out when George Gibson was growing up and a new crop of young Southern old-time musicians who are coming up today.nbsp; George has gathered around him and served as mentor and teacher in an informal sense to a number of very talented young musicians from around the South including Clifton Hicks (Boone, NC), Brett Rattiff (Knott Co, KY), John Haywood (Knott Co. KY), Matt Kinman (Bethel, NC) and Jesse Wells (Knott Co. KY).nbsp; Check out the 2008 Interview I did with Brett Ratliff here in the Down Home Radio archives. Andnbsp; be sure to check out George's album, "Last Possum Up the Tree" on the Appalshop label.nbsp; Below are some of George Gibson's excellent notes to that album: "The Possum CD contains some of the banjo songs and stories I learned as a boy in the Kentucky mountains ca. 1950. I was born in 1938 at Bath, in Knott County, Kentucky. Bath was a rural post office, now discontinued, on Little Carr Creek, which was known by local people as Burgeyrsquo;s Creek. I learned to play and sing the old songs, in the old tunings, from my family and neighbors. I left Knott County in the 1960's, taking with me a Kay banjo and a Vega Whyte Laydie guitar banjo. I have been mostly a couch banjo player since leaving. I believe that continuing to play banjo was my way of holding on to a past that I glimpsed only briefly. That past is part of a world and time in Knott County that has vanished forever. As far as I know, I am the last person left playing the old Burgeyrsquo;s Creek banjo music. I am the last possum up the tree." "A few academics and revival musicians from outside the mountains wrote the banjo out of existence in pre-Civil War Appalachia. This is one example of cultural strip mining that I thought should be reversed. Therefore, when I was afforded the opportunity to write the liner notes for the Possum CD, I included evidence of a banjo tradition in Kentucky prior to the Civil War." "Most of the banjo songs were played on a ca. 1907 Bacon ff Professional 5-string banjo. Tracks 7 and 20 were recorded playing a ca. 1924 Gibson GB-4 trap-door guitar banjo, which has a 14" head." For more of George Gibson's writings from the notes to this album, as well as lyrics, click here. Shows Eli Smith no No http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/04/the-hundred-songs/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/04/the-hundred-songs/#comments Sun, 18 Apr 2010 22:08:36 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/?p=1028 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/04/the-hundred-songs/feed/ 0 00:01:01 On today's show I speak with Peter Stampfel and Jeannie Scofield.nbsp; In 2004 Peter Stampfel, founder of The Holy Modal Rounders and early member of ... On today's show I speak with Peter Stampfel and Jeannie Scofield.nbsp; In 2004 Peter Stampfel, founder of The Holy Modal Rounders and early member of the Fugs, began a project to research and record one song from every year of the 20th century.nbsp; Early on in the project he met singer Jeannie Scofield and they have been working on it together these past 6 years.nbsp; This amazing project is getting near completion, and we get a sneak preview of it today as they perform live on the show.nbsp; Peter and Jeannie create a wonderful sound and put their own stamp on a number of great songs drawn from their survey of 20th century American popular music.nbsp; There's a lot of great songs back there! Also be sure to check out Peter's new solo CD, Dook of the Beatniks. And check out the interview and live performance I recorded with Peter Stampfel and John Cohen from back in the 2006 DHR archives! Shows Eli Smith no No http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/04/radio-unnamable-with-bob-fass/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/04/radio-unnamable-with-bob-fass/#comments Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:14:22 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/04/radio-unnamable-with-bob-fass/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/04/radio-unnamable-with-bob-fass/feed/ 4 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/04/blind-boy-paxton-on-down-home-tv/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/04/blind-boy-paxton-on-down-home-tv/#comments Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:21:24 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/04/blind-boy-paxton-on-down-home-tv/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/04/blind-boy-paxton-on-down-home-tv/feed/ 1 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/03/down-home-tv/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/03/down-home-tv/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:56:08 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/?p=984 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/03/down-home-tv/feed/ 1 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/03/interview-with-frank-fairfield/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/03/interview-with-frank-fairfield/#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:39:53 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/?p=974 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/03/interview-with-frank-fairfield/feed/ 4 00:01:01 (photos E. Smith) On today's show I speak with Frank Fairfield.nbsp; I was knocked out by his new album on the Tompkins Square label and was ... (photos E. Smith) On today's show I speak with Frank Fairfield.nbsp; I was knocked out by his new album on the Tompkins Square label and was glad to finally catch up with Frank at his home in Los Angeles, CA when I was out there back in January.nbsp; Frank plays banjo, fiddle and guitar in an old time style and is a really great singer.nbsp; We talk about his music and his ideas about music in general, Frank plays some tunes live on the show and also plays several favorite 78rpm records from his own collection.nbsp; Frank Fairfield has a rare gift for interpreting what he calls "the American repertoire."nbsp; He gives the music an authentic presence that is very exciting.nbsp; Frank has embodied the music he plays.nbsp; Although his repertoire is from a different landscape then we see around us today he has found a way inside and expresses it with emotional depth and energy that is very enjoyable to see live as well as listen to on the record. Frank plays at Tommy's Loft in downtown LA. Shows Eli Smith no No http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/02/backroads-and-banjos-with-art-rosenbaum/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/02/backroads-and-banjos-with-art-rosenbaum/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:07:13 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/?p=928 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/02/backroads-and-banjos-with-art-rosenbaum/feed/ 0 00:01:01 On today's show I'm happy to be bringing out a new addition to Down Home Radio.nbsp; Well known field recordist, painter and musician Art Rosenbaum ... On today's show I'm happy to be bringing out a new addition to Down Home Radio.nbsp; Well known field recordist, painter and musician Art Rosenbaum hosts his own weekly 15 minute radio program, "Backroads #38; Banjos" on AM 1690, WMLB out of Atlanta, GA.nbsp; We will be periodically re-airing this wonderful program here on Down Home Radio.nbsp; Rosenbaum is perhaps best known for his recent Grammy Award winning collections of his own field recordings, "The Art of Field Recording" on the Dust to Digital label. On this episode Art Rosenbaum and Phil Tanner remembers their friend, guitarist Smokey Joe Miller who passed on in November of 2009.nbsp; Miller played with 4 generations of Tanners - he played with Gid Tanner in the old original Skillet Lickers back in the 30's, as well as with Gid's son Gordon, then Phil and most lately Russ Tanner, the latest member of this Georgia musical family.nbsp; This 1/2 hour program brings together 2 episodes of "Backroads #38; Banjos" dedicated to Smokey Joe. Art Rosenbaum (right) talks with guest Phil Tanner as he tapes a segment of his radio show at AM 1690 in Atlanta, photo from an article about Rosenbaum on AccessAtlanta.com Art Rosenbaum plays six string banjo in front of one of his paintings. Other,,Shows Eli Smith no No http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/01/remembering-henrietta-yurchenco-1916-2007-interview-with-mable-hillary-from-wnyc-ca-1960s/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/01/remembering-henrietta-yurchenco-1916-2007-interview-with-mable-hillary-from-wnyc-ca-1960s/#comments Sun, 17 Jan 2010 07:12:56 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/?p=922 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/01/remembering-henrietta-yurchenco-1916-2007-interview-with-mable-hillary-from-wnyc-ca-1960s/feed/ 1 00:01:01 Henrietta Yurchenco, 2006.nbsp; Photo: Sashenka Lopez. On today's show we remember my dear friend, Down Home Radio co-founder Henrietta Yurchenco, who passed away on Dec. 10th, ... Henrietta Yurchenco, 2006.nbsp; Photo: Sashenka Lopez. On today's show we remember my dear friend, Down Home Radio co-founder Henrietta Yurchenco, who passed away on Dec. 10th, 2007 at the age of 91.nbsp; Henrietta was a pioneering ethnomusicologist who starting in 1944, hauled hundreds of pounds of recording equipment on mules through the rugged Sierra mountains and lowland deserts of Mexico to make the very first recordings of indigenous music from that country.nbsp; She was also a pioneer in the field of folk music radio, hosting shows on WNYC starting in 1940 and later WBAI and WNYC again through the 1960's.nbsp; She gave Pete Seeger his debut on radio, often had Woody Guthrie on her programs and served as Leadbelly's producer for his radio program.nbsp; Later, in the 1960's she had Bob Dylan and many other performers and scholars of that era on her show.nbsp; Henrietta was Professor Emerita at the City College of New York, where she taught ethnomusicology for many years. I met her when she was 89 and we had a great time doing this show together and generally hanging out in the last 2 years of her life. nbsp; She was a tremendously accomplished person who over a very long career left an amazing musical and historical legacy, some of which has been preserved for us to hear. For a short history of her career read my essay, her obituary from the New York Times, her excellent autobiography, or visit her website. Every year on the anniversary of her passing I will be bringing out some amazing treasure from her archives for us all to hear as we remember this remarkable woman.nbsp; Due to this years fund drive this show is a bit late, but I'm happy to bring it out now. Today's show isnbsp; an episode of Henrietta's 1960's radio show, "Adventures in Folk Music" for WNYC here in New York.nbsp; It features Henrietta interviewing a wonderful singer from the Georgia Sea Islands, Mable Hillary (1929-76) who was very involved in the Civil Rights and Peace movements and eventually moved to New York City where she taught in the public school system.nbsp; Hillary was an amazing singer and performer of blues and unaccompanied songs, as well as traditional game songs and their dances.nbsp; She performed in the Georgia Sea Island Singers along with Bessie Jones and others.nbsp; As a side note, I find the contrast of Hillary's voice and the guitar work of her accompanist to be interesting, beautiful and in several instances quite unique. [L] Henrietta in Mexico, 1940's.nbsp; [R] Henrietta Yurchenco (right) and an unidentified woman, near Zion Methodist Church, St. John's Island, South Carolina. March 1970. (Henrietta Yurchenco Collection. Photo by David Lewiston) HEAR! more from Mable Hillary and others at a 1965 concert in Central Park courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity. READ! more about Mable Hillary at the Association for Cultural Equity's website. And don't forget to check out the Down Home Radio advert in the Old Time Herald Magazine - www.oldtimeherald.org - lots of great articles, reviews and more! Shows Eli Smith no No http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2009/12/save-down-home-radio/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2009/12/save-down-home-radio/#comments Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:22:50 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/?p=872 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2009/12/save-down-home-radio/feed/ 0 00:01:01 Hello everybody, The show's been going on now for more than 3 years.nbsp; Its been a great project; a quick look through the archives will show ... Hello everybody, The show's been going on now for more than 3 years.nbsp; Its been a great project; a quick look through the archives will show you the depth and scope of what has been aired on Down Home Radio - dozens of in depth radio interviews with well known elders of the folk scene as well as many great new performers you won't hear about anywhere else, articles, archival materials, tons of amazing old recordings drawn from obscure sources, plus lots of hard to find out-of-print LPs, digitized and posted for your pleasure and convenience, all for free. But I can't continue to do the show without your support.nbsp; Increasing demands on my time from other projects and the rigors of getting along in New York City make it hard to find time for Down Home Radio anymore.nbsp; If you value this show/archive, recognize it as something unique and much more than just a blog, please support what I'm doing.nbsp; Down Home Radio needs funds to replace broken equipment, to pay for all the technical, logistical and office expenses involved with the program and to continue to bring you the coverage only DHR can. With your support DHR can not only continue but will be able to expand its programming and produce new shows of all kinds on a regular basis, as well as pay for ads in magazines and generally increase its profile and listenership.nbsp; I have not set a specific monetary goal for this fund drive, but rather hope that listeners will show their appreciation for the shows already produced and donate an amount that will offset to a significant degree the cost of its continuing production and progress for a years time. Check out today's show to hear music from some of the awesome new performers I would like to have on the show in the future, plus live recordings from the 2009 Brooklyn Folk Festival, sponsored by Down Home Radio and organized by yours truly.nbsp; I also have a number of great interviews already recorded that I can't find the time to get to, including Jack Elliott, Del McCoury, Peter Rowan, Jody Stecher, Larry Hanks, as well as Archie Green, Harold Leventhal and Jim Longhi - very important figures in folk music history who are now deceased.nbsp; That's why I have staged this fund drive, in an effort to muster the resources to continue this unique voice in the media and add this important material to the public archive that is Down Home Radio. Down Home Radio is live from the grass roots of the folk revival that's going on right now.nbsp; If you appreciate this kind of coverage, please make a tax deductible donation to Down Home Radio, and receive any or all of the 3 awesome premiums listed below. Thanks.nbsp; Your host, Eli ldquo;Eli Smith is the only young musician I know who is single-handedly reporting on the present scene and documenting its continuity with the past.rdquo; ndash; John Cohen, New Lost City Ramblers Down Home Radio offers innovative coverage you wonrsquo;t find anywhere else.nbsp; An excellent program.rdquo; ndash; Amy Goodman, Democracy Now! ldquo;Keep on!nbsp; The people who listen to you really depend on you.rdquo; ndash; Pete Seeger "Down Home Radio compensates for the lack of traditional folk music of the Americas in both mainstream and niche media by serving as the only national or international resource consistently offering in-depth long form radio interviews with a variety of established figures of the folk music landscape.nbsp; But even more importantly, the program provides a platform for emerging folk artists who have no alternate outlet for this kind of discourse, giving them a chance to tell their story and perform their music live on the show.nbsp; As a journalist and fieldworker who is also an active performer, Eli is in a unique position to relay grassroots and cutting-edge coverage of the folk music scene, much like Broadside or Sing Out! magazines did in their early incarnations." - Lynette Wiley The Stuff: For a $25 pledge, receive a Do... Shows Eli Smith no No