http://www.downhomeradioshow.com Down Home Radio is a hardcore, unreconstructed, paleo-acoustic folk music program. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:42:11 +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/2010/03/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/ 2 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/2010/03/brooklyn-folk-festival-preview-concert-and-benefit/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/03/brooklyn-folk-festival-preview-concert-and-benefit/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:53:40 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/03/brooklyn-folk-festival-preview-concert-and-benefit/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/03/brooklyn-folk-festival-preview-concert-and-benefit/feed/ 0 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/02/twelve-tunes-for-two-banjos/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/02/twelve-tunes-for-two-banjos/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:19:45 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/02/twelve-tunes-for-two-banjos/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/02/twelve-tunes-for-two-banjos/feed/ 3 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/2010/02/treasures-of-the-archive-of-folk-song-at-the-library-of-congress/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/02/treasures-of-the-archive-of-folk-song-at-the-library-of-congress/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:24:14 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/?p=933 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/02/treasures-of-the-archive-of-folk-song-at-the-library-of-congress/feed/ 2 00:01:01 Treasures of the Archive of Folk Song at the Library of Congress - a lecture by Joe Hickerson at the Jalopy Theater, Brooklyn, NY 1/16/10 Greetings ... Treasures of the Archive of Folk Song at the Library of Congress - a lecture by Joe Hickerson at the Jalopy Theater, Brooklyn, NY 1/16/10 Greetings from California.nbsp; I'm out on the West Coast playing some shows with my band The Dust Busters and our friends the The Dough Rollers.nbsp; But I'm still on the job, bringing out Down Home Radio shows!nbsp; Here's a recording I made at the Jalopy Theater just before I left town. Joe Hickerson was the librarian and head of the Archive of Folk Song at the Library of Congress from the 1960's-90's. This is a very cool "lecture-demonstration," where Joe talks about the Archive of Folk Song/Culture, plays great examples from its collection and also plays and sings some of his favorite tunes from the Archive. Got more stuff in the can waiting to come out, plus I've been making some great recordings as I'm traveling around, so look out for more great stuff here on Down Home Radio! Joe Hickerson's appearance at Jalopy was sponsored by: Joe Hickerson records Mississippi John Hurt for the Library of Congress, 1960's. Robert Winslow Gordon, first head of the Archive, with wax cylinder recordings and recording equipment, about 1930. Library of Congress Photo. And donrsquo;t forget to check out the Down Home Radio advert in the Old Time Herald Magazine ndash; www.oldtimeherald.org ndash; lots of great articles, reviews and more! Live,Recordings 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/2010/01/thank-you-for-your-support/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/01/thank-you-for-your-support/#comments Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:45:05 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/?p=915 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2010/01/thank-you-for-your-support/feed/ 0 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 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2009/11/interview-with-john-cohen/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2009/11/interview-with-john-cohen/#comments Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:05:41 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/?p=861 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2009/11/interview-with-john-cohen/feed/ 2 00:01:01 On today's show I speak with musician, photographer, filmmaker and folk-musicologist John Cohen of the New Lost City Ramblers. At the time of this interview, ... On today's show I speak with musician, photographer, filmmaker and folk-musicologist John Cohen of the New Lost City Ramblers. At the time of this interview, conducted in the summer of 2008, John had just come out with a new CD of old recordings called "Berkeley in the 1960's" on the Field Recorders Collective label. This is a great record label, definitely check them out. On the show we discuss this excellent new album, but also range over topics including his earliest field work in Kentucky and Peru, his influences as a guitarist, favorite photographers and his advice/anti-advice to students, stemming from his experience as a professor of art. John also demonstrates Hobart Smith's piano style, which I've never heard anyone else tackle before and offers his reflections on his friend Roscoe Holcomb.nbsp; Recordings John mentions are played throughout. Apparently whenever the New Lost City Ramblers would go to Berkeley, CA through out the 1960's, they would have a big jam at a house on Colby Street.nbsp; John was so impressed by this gathering of musicians at that place and time that in 1970 with the help of Vanguard Records he flew to California to record this sound.nbsp; They used the left over tape from the Grateful Dead's Working Man's Dead sessions at Pacific High studios and recorded some great stuff, but one thing and another it didn't come out, until now! Musicians on the record are Jody Stecher, Larry Hanks,nbsp; Sue Draheim, Holly Tannen, Hank Bradley, Sue Thompson, Eric Thompson, Kenny Hall and Bob Potts, Mac Benford and Walt Koken who would later form the Highwoods Stringband. I've been trying to bring this interview out for over a year! Many thanks to Carly Nix for volunteering to edit this interview for airplay, otherwise it might have never got done. Thank you! Sadly, I would also like to note the recent passing of Field Recorder's Collective founder Ray Alden.nbsp; He was a great guy who did really important work.nbsp; I him met on a couple of occasions, but only briefly and without time to really talk or do an interview.nbsp; Now its too late, but I hope to do a piece about him as soon as possible. And ndash; Thanks go to the Old Time Herald magazine for being super cool and running our advertisement.nbsp; Check it out in the magazine! "Over the Waterfalls" as played by Henry Reed. Field recorded by Alan Jabbour.nbsp; This Library of Congress website is a really great resource.nbsp; Check here to see more of their online collections: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/browse/ListSome.php?division=Folklife John Cohen's website: http://www.johncohenworks.com Shows Eli Smith no No http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2009/11/library-of-congress-field-recordings-lp/ http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2009/11/library-of-congress-field-recordings-lp/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:00:33 +0000 admin http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/?p=848 http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2009/11/library-of-congress-field-recordings-lp/feed/ 0 00:01:01 Here is an early, influential and fantastic album issued by the Library of Congress in 1942.nbsp; It was first issued on an album of 78rpm ... Here is an early, influential and fantastic album issued by the Library of Congress in 1942.nbsp; It was first issued on an album of 78rpm records and then was reissued on this disc early in the LP era.nbsp; This record AAFS L2, "Anglo-American Shanties, Lyrics Songs, Dance Tunes and Spirituals from the Archive of American Folk Song," is the 2nd in the "Folk Music of the United States" series and was edited by Alan Lomax. There's some pretty amazing stuff on here.nbsp; In fact, all of it is great.nbsp; It's a great record! The field recordings on this album were newly made at the time of the album's release.nbsp; This was the latest hot off the press stuff.nbsp; The field recordists who made these recordings, Alan and Elizabeth Lomax, Pete Seeger, Herbert Halpert, Charles Todd and Robert Sonkin are a good representation of the small group of early modern folklorists busy making field recordings of Southern music at that time. There's some clutch stuff on here.nbsp; These recordings were very influential early on to Pete Seeger, who made several of them, and to the members of the New Lost City Ramblers among others.nbsp; Mike Seeger has recorded his own versions of many of the song variants found on this album. Here's an unfair question:nbsp; How do you think this record, or better this series, of field recordings edited by Alan Lomax and issued in 1942, relates to the Anthology of American Folk Music, composed of commercially recorded 78s, which was edited by Harry Smith and issued in 1952? Contrary to some popular conceptions, there were amazing and influential compilations of folk music issued before the Anthology... I will continue to post more volumes from this series, but I think this one is my favorite. CLICK HERE to download the album cut up into tracks. See below for track information and notes: CLICK TO ENLARGE Does anyone have the complete liner notes booklet that accompanies this record?nbsp; Can you scan it? Tracks: A1.nbsp; Sally Brown sung by J.M. "Sailor Dad" Hunt of Marion, VA. 1941 A2. Haul Away My Rosy by same. A3. Pay Day at Coal Creek (Lament on a Mine Disaster) sung with 5-string banjo by Pete Steele at Hamilton, Ohio, 1938 A4. The Little Dove sung by Aunt Molly Jackson of Clay County, Ky. 1939 A5. Ten Thousand Mile by same A6. Soldier, Won't You Marry Me? Sung with guitar by Russ Pike at Visalia, CA 1941 A7. Jennie Jenkins sung with guitar and mandolin by Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Ball at Rugby, VA 1941 A8. FOD (nonsense song) sung with guitar and mandolin by Henry Kind and Family at Visalia, CA 1941 A9. Roll on the Ground sung with 5-string banjo by Thaddeus C. Willingham at Gulfport, MS 1939 B1. The Last of Callahan B2. The Ways of the World B3. Glory in the Meeting House - all played by Luther Strong at Dalesburg, KY 1937 B4. Grub Springs B5. The Eighth of January B6. Sally Goodin B7. Cindy - all played on the fiddle by W.E. Claunch with guitar at Guntown, MS, 1939 B8. Old Joe Clark B9. Chilly Winds - both played on 5-string banjo by Wade Ward at Galax, VA 1939 B10. Cripple Creek played on 5-string banjo by Herbert Smoke at Winchester, VA 1940 B11. Coal Creek March played on 5-string banjo by Pete Steele at Hamilton, Ohio, 1938 B12. John Henry (square dance) played by Wallace Swann and his Cherokee String Band, with square dancing at Asheville Folk Festival, Asheville, NC 1941 B13. The Train (harmonica solo) played on the harmonica by Chub Parham with clogging, at Asheville Folk Festival, Asheville, NC 1941 Here's what the Alan Lomax Archive website says about this record series: FOLK SONGS OF THE UNITED STATES An annotated survey of the field recordings in the Archive of American Folk Song at the Library of Congress, including Southern, Northern, and Western Euro-American songs and ballads; many types of African American songs from the United States and Bahamas; Mexican American songs and ballads; and songs and tunes from the Cajun country. This fir... Out,of,Print,Records Eli Smith no No