COURSE TITLE:
AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC
NO OF CREDITS:
6 QUARTER CREDITS
[semester equivalent = 4 credits]
WA CLOCK HRS:
OREGON PDUs:
INSTRUCTOR:
SHERRY BOZORTH, M.A.I.S.
360/225-6186
bozdv54@gmail.com
60
60
SUPPLEMENTARY READING MATERIALS
Assignment #2:
(FYI: SOURCE FOR TIMELINE = http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/fishlm/articles/rootsmusic.htm)
1871 The Fisk Jubilee Singers begin touring America performing their spirituals for white audiences.
• Fisk Jubilee Singers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H_GmvZxCbM and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H_GmvZxCbM
1890 Jessie Walter Fewkes records the Passamaquoddy Indians off the coast of Maine. This is the first
field use of the newly-invented recording machine.
1902 The era of the flat disc recording begins when the Columbia and Victor companies arrive at 7-inch
and 10-inch formats for the newly-designed records.
1904 The St. Louis World's Fair, the largest of its kind to date, features "human dioramas" introducing the
music of Africa, the Philippines and Native American cultures to a mass audience.
1910 Song archivist John Lomax publishes his first book, Cowboy Songs and Frontier Ballads, consisting
of songs he gathered traveling through Texas, including "Home on the Range."
• “Home on the Range”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_YK7ebcZ2o
1920 Mamie Smith and her Jazz Hounds record "Crazy Blues" for Okeh, the first blues recording by a
black singer, triggering an enormous popular demand for blues recordings and "race" records.
• Mamie Smith: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaz4Ziw_CfQ
1925 Nashville fiddler Uncle Jimmy Thompson performs a collection of his favorite songs on Nashville
radio station WSM. Two years later George D. Hay renames the show "The Grand Old Opry."
• Uncle Jimmy Thompson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SbHdv_30_U
1925 Blind Lemon Jefferson—one of country blues' big three, along with Charley Patton and Son
House—begins his recording career with Paramount Records.
• Blind Lemon Jefferson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yd-c91ww8
1927 Victor Records' Ralph Peer goes to Bristol, Tennessee and records 19 proto-country music artists in
two weeks, discovering Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family.
• Jimmie Rogers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEIBmGZxAhg
• The Carter Family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewnfWoSQz3o
1928 The first Cajun recordings are made by accordionists Joe Falcon (in the Acadian style) and Armede
Ardoin (in the black French Creole style); the latter is eventually known as zydeco.
• Armede Ardoin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EMELyoCE7k
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Assignment #2: Continued
1930 Georgia Tom Dorsey, a bluesman of the 1920s, scores his first non-secular hit with "If You See My
Savior, Tell Him You Saw Me" and is henceforth known as Thomas A. Dorsey, the Father of Gospel.
• Thomas Dorsey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2-twJpqjFY
1933 John Lomax and his son Alan travel 16,000 miles in four months, recording country, blues and work
songs, mainly in southern penitentiaries. They meet Leadbelly shortly before his release from jail.
1934 Lydia Mendoza, part of the popular Familia Mendoza group, records as a solo artist and "Mal
Hombre becomes a major Hispanic-American hit, establishing her as the first star of tejano music.
• Lydia Mendoza: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW7VXPUa2J0
1934 The Golden Gate Quartet revolutionized gospel music with their percussive jubilee-style vocals.
• The Golden Gate Quartet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fR-Kz2Qj3g
1934-36 Woody Guthrie hobos from Oklahoma to California and back across the country, singing the
plight of Great Depression farmers and becoming known as The Dust Bowl Balladeer.
• Woody Guthrie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5NJKx8ObDY
1935 Gene Autry, America's favorite Singing Cowboy, stars in the Republic Pictures film “Tumbling
Tumbleweeds”, creating the musical western genre and establishing the cowboy song as a popular
music style.
• Gene Autry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vLk1MyAcFE
1935 Bob Wills first records with the Texas Playboys, combining country music with jazz-inspired
arrangements to usher in the western swing era, using fiddles, electric guitar, drums and horns.
• Bob Wills: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sS5jSbV0Vg
1936 Delta blues giant Robert Johnson's first recording sessions take place in San Antonio for Vacation,
yielding such seminal tracks as "Cross Road Blues," "Terraplane Blues" and "Kind Hearted Woman
Blues."
• Robert Johnson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A
1938 John Hammond puts together a history of American roots music entitled "From Spirituals to Swing,"
the first time an all-black show is presented at Carnegie Hall.
1941 Sonny Boy Williamson and Robert Lockwood Jr. help launch the "King Biscuit Time" show on KFFA
in Arkansas.
• Robert Lockwood, Jr.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpHcoODltDQ
1943 Muddy Waters joins the black migration from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago, amplifying his
country blues roots to help create Chicago blues.
• Muddy Waters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5IOou6qN1o
1946 The banjo hits it big when Bill Monroe adds banjo player Earl Scruggs and guitarist Lester Flatt to
his band, creating the bluegrass sound.
• Bill Monroe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffhqOy_A8KM
• Earl Scruggs & Lester Flatt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4sqishGuYw
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Assignment #2: Continued
1947 Mahalia Jackson brings gospel music to its commercial highpoint, recording "Move On Up a Little
Higher" for the independent Apollo label. A million seller, it establishes gospel music in the
mainstream music marketplace.
• Mahalia Jackson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l49N8U3d0Bw
1948 The vinyl record, or LP, is introduced, allowing artists to record lengthier compositions.
1949 Honky-tonk country artist Hank Williams debuts at the Grand Ole Opry, performing "Lovesick Blues."
• Hank Williams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xu71i89xvs
1949 Local blues sensation Riley King hosts and plays the "Pepticon Boy" show on WDIA radio in
Memphis; he goes on to DJ as the "Beale Street Blues Boy," then later known as "B.B." King.
• B.B. King: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ny5ajCn0xw
1950 The Weavers score a Number One hit with a version of Lead Belly's "Goodnight Irene," creating a
new sound that anticipates the folk revival.
• The Weavers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLvk-qsKonQ
1952 Kitty Wells records "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" in Nashville, opening the door to
women in modern country music.
• Kitty Wells: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OCflkwB8-A
1952 Folkways Records releases the 6-volume Anthology of American Folk Music, compiled by Harry
Smith, which becomes a bible for folk music revivalists.
1954 The first recordings by accordionist Clifton Chenier establish zydeco as a popular hybrid genre.
• Clifton Chenier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcsK36zVfE8
1954 Sam Phillips signs and records Elvis Presley. Their first single, "That's All Right Mama," a blues
song written by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup; the b-side is Bill Monroe's bluegrass track, "Blue Moon of
Kentucky".
1959 The Newport Folk Festival is organized by George Wein, Alan Lomax, Pete Seeger and others. It
becomes a major vehicle for introducing American folk musicians to broader audiences.
• Pete Seeger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iAIM02kv0g
1963 Spiritual music, in particular the anthem "We Shall Overcome," becomes a driving musical force of
the Civil Rights, and later, the anti-war movements.
• “We Shall Overcome” (Pete Seeger) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhnPVP23rzo
1965 Backed by members of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, folk hero Bob Dylan plugs in and plays
electric music at the Newport Folk Festival.
1968 Gospel superstar Mahalia Jackson sings "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" at Martin Luther King Jr.'s
funeral.
• Mahalia Jackson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0a8RNdnhNo
1969 The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival becomes one of the most important roots music
showcases in the world.
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Assignment #2: Continued
1974 The Council of the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) sponsors the first Festivals
Acadiens at Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette, promoting Cajun music.
1981 Ricky Skaggs releases “Waitin' for the Sun to Shine”, catalyzing the 1980s neo-traditional country
movement.
• Ricky Skaggs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCYCCuJLIaA
• Ricky Skaggs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s23Ef1_oPHQ
1983 The compact disc is released as a new medium for digital audio, creating an unprecedented boom
in extensive reissue packages.
1989 Legendary accordionist Flaco Jiminez forms the Texas Tornados with Freddy Fender and former Sir
Douglas Quintet members Doug Sahm and Augie Meyers.
• Flaco Jiminez: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKZvSz4qs2w
• Texas Tornados: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6ON9tlAQ-8
1990 The Complete Robert Johnson, a Columbia/Legacy 2-disc set collecting all of the Delta Bluesmanʼs
known recordings, becomes a surprise hit and creates a boom for roots reissues.
1998 The No Depression movement reaches its apotheosis in Mermaid Avenue, an alt-country
collaboration between Billy Bragg and Wilco matching new music to Woody Guthrie lyrics.
• Billy Bragg & Wilco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhm27uXG6bg
Assignment #3:
http://mfolkie.tripod.com/
FORCUCCI'S EIGHT GENERALIZATIONS
To Forcucci (1984), the folk singer's art is storytelling, and the responsibility lies in telling the story rather
than entertaining the audience. Because the oral transmission definition of folk music is obsolete and
much of the music is transmitted by the mass media today, Forcucci put folk music into two basic
categories: traditional folk songs and modern urban folk songs. He gave eight generalizations by which
one may define folk music:
1. Folk songs represent the musical expressions of the common people.
2. These songs are not composed in that they are not the works of skilled, tutored musicians. It is more
accurate to say that they have been created rather than composed.
3. These songs are ordinarily the product of an unknown person or group of persons. The credits often
read: Anonymous; American Folk Song; Traditional; or Southern Mountain Song.
4. The words or lyrics of folk songs are usually colloquial in nature to reflect the speech patterns and
expressions of a particular people or region.
5. These songs are highly “singable” primarily because they were first presented with the singing voice
rather than have been written down in musical notation beforehand.
6. Folk songs are simply structured, both musically and verbally. It is their “naiveté” that gives them their
charm.
7. These songs can be effectively performed without instrumental accompaniment. When they are
accompanied, a less formal instrument (such as a guitar, banjo, accordion, dulcimer, or Autoharp) is
considered appropriate.
8. Folk songs are indigenous to a particular region or people because they reflect the musical/verbal
preferences of that people or region in their materials.
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Assignment #4:
Read about John Avery Lomax and his contribution to preserving American Roots Music.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/lohtml/lojohnbio.html
Read about Alan Lomax (Johnʼs son) and his contribution.
http://www.pbs.org/americanrootsmusic/pbs_arm_saa_lomax.html
a) Listen to the album “Anglo-American Shanties, Lyrics Songs, Dance Tunes and Spirituals from the
Archive of American Folk Song.” (Click on arrow to listen. Scroll down page to see individual tracks and
singers/musicians.)
http://www.downhomeradioshow.com/2009/11/library-of-congress-field-recordings-lp/
b) Listen to samples at itunes.com of songs from the “Deep River of Songs - Black Appalachia” album,
“Field Recordings Album 6”, “The Folkways Collection,” and “Library of Congress Archives” albums, and
“Ballads and Songs” album. (OR - in itunes.com search: Uncle Billy McCrea, James “Iron head” Baker,
Mose “Clear Rock” Platt, “Washington” Lightninʼ, Huddie Ledbetter, Dock Reed, Vera Hall, Alan Lomax
and Georgia Sea Islands.)
Assignment #5:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_music
a) Go to website and read section titled “Appalacian Music” (2 paragraphs)
• paragraph 1 - Click on and read about each type of folk music and folk instrument.
• paragraph 2 - Click on and read about each folk musician(s.)
b) “History” (same website) (4 paragraphs)
• paragraphs 1 & 2 - click on and read about the ballads and dance tunes listed.
• paragraphs 3 & 4 - click on a read about each instrument.
c) “Collecting and Recording” (same website) (4 paragraphs)
• Read the four paragraphs. Using itunes.com and amazon.com, or other music download websites
• Listen to samples of the song titles listed in these four paragraphs, and in the “History” four
paragraphs (listed above.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old-time_music
d)“Old-Time Music”
• paragraph #1 - Click on and read about the various instruments listed. (scroll down page to)
e)“Instrumentation” (6 paragraphs)
• Click on and read about any instruments that you havenʼt explored yet.
• In the last paragraph click on and read about the various dance types (clogging, square, etc.)
Assignment #6:
Fellow Workers SOURCE: http://folkmusic.about.com/od/historyoffolk/a/Folk_History.htm
The 20th Century brought folk music back into the American psyche as workers struggled and struck for
child labor laws and the eight-hour workday. Workers and folksingers gathered in churches, living rooms
and union halls, and learned songs that helped them cope with their rough work environment. Joe Hill
was an early folk songwriter and union agitator. His songs adapted the tunes of Baptist hymns by
replacing the words with verses about the ongoing labor struggles. These tunes have been sung during
worker strikes and in union halls ever since.
In the 1930s, folk music enjoyed resurgence as the stock market crashed and workers everywhere were
displaced, scrambling for jobs. A series of droughts and dust storms encouraged farmers out of the Dust
Bowl region and toward promises in California and New York State. These communities were found in
boxcars and jungle camps, as workers tried to make their way from job to job.
Woody Guthrie was one of those workers who headed to California in search of gainful employment. He
wrote hundreds of songs between the 1930s and his death in 1967 of Huntingtonʼs Chorea.
In the 1940s, bluegrass began to evolve as a distinct genre with greats like Bill Monroe and the Blue
Grass Boys, which spawned banjo legend Earl Scruggs, guitarist Lester Flatt, and Del McCoury.
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Assignment #6: Continued
Possible DVD choices (available at Netflix.com)
• “American Roots Music” (2001) Gospel, blues, country, folk, Western swing, bluegrass, Cajun,
zydeco, Tejano and Native American are all uniquely American music genres; this four-part PBS
documentary traces the development of these colorful musical styles. Rare and historic footage,
performances by American music pioneers and interviews with artists such as the Carter Family,
B.B. King, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan and others tell the story of America's rich musical history.
• “Bound for Glory” (1976) Frustrated sign painter Woodie Guthrie (David Carradine) leaves his
family in Depression-era Texas and heads to California. Work is scarce and hope is even harder
to find. But a socially conscious radio performer (Ronny Cox) helps Guthrie bring his music to the
masses and inspire generations of Americans. Based on the folk singer's autobiography, the film
earned Academy Awards for its lush cinematography and faithful score.
A New Generation
In the ʻ60s, again, the American worker found himself in struggle. This time, the main concern was not
wages or benefits, but civil rights and the War in Vietnam. American folksingers gathered in coffee shops
and at hootenannies in San Francisco and New York. They picked up the legacies of Woody Guthrie and
others, singing songs about the concerns of the day. Out of this community rose Folk Rockʼs superstars Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, and others. Their work dealt with everything from love and war to
work and play. The 1960s folk revival offered political commentary, sure, but also a powerful promise for
change.
By the 1970s, folk music had begun to fade into the background, as the US pulled out of Vietnam and the
Civil Rights Movement saw its biggest triumphs. Folksingers continued to persevere. James Taylor, Jim
Croce, Cat Stevens, and others wrote songs about relationships, religion, and the continuously-evolving
political climate.
In the 1980s, folksingers focused on the Reagan-led economy and trickle-down economics. In New York,
the Fast Folk Café opened and spawned the likes of Suzanne Vega, Michelle Shocked, and John Gorka.
Possible DVD choices (available at Netflix.com)
• “Bob Dylan: The American Troubador” (2005) Bob Dylan's poignant lyrics and no-nonsense style
changed the face of rock music, and his songs served as anthems for the youth of America
during the tumultuous 1960s. A&E's "Biography" program chronicles Dylan's life from his youth as
a guitar player who emulated Woody Guthrie to the writing of his classic songs and his
transformation later in life. Friends and musicians share intimate stories about the man behind the
legend.
• “Pete Seeger: The Power of Song” (2007) Filmmaker Jim Brown blends archival footage,
interviews and home movies to paint an affectionate portrait of pioneering folk singer and political
activist Pete Seeger, best known for the classic anthems "If I Had a Hammer" and "Turn, Turn,
Turn." Highlights include candid conversations with legendary artists such as Bruce Springsteen,
Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, who weigh in on Seeger's far-reaching influence.
• “Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound” (2009) Celebrating the life and career of folk legend and
activist Joan Baez, this documentary features a wealth of archival footage, recent performances
and interviews with David Crosby, Jesse Jackson, Bob Dylan and others. Her performance at the
Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island and footage of her human rights activism highlight her
public persona, while a candid chat with ex-husband David Harris offers a private glimpse into
this American icon.
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Assignment #6: Continued
The Best is Yet To Come
Now at the head of the 21st Century, American folk music has begun to swell again, as workers find
themselves in a position of nostalgia. Now, the main concerns are Civil Rights for LGBT workers and
another war - this time in the Middle East. Folk singers in New York, Boston, Austin and San Francisco
have emerged with a new brand of music. Alt-Country has evolved over the past couple of decades. A
new generation of bluegrass bands has changed the name of the genre to newgrass, thanks to bands like
Nickel Creek, Railroad Earth, and Open Road. Folk festivals are thriving with younger audiences joining
their parentsʼ generation in celebrating folk singer/songwriters like Dar Williams, Greg Brown and Ani
DiFranco.
Folk labels like Red House and Lost Highway are popping up everywhere, and up-and-comers are
traversing the American Interstates to sing their songs in bars, clubs, coffeehouses, Unitarian Universalist
Churches, and at peace demonstrations and house concerts.
Folk singers may be of an ilk that rarely goes multi-platinum, but their work truly resonates with people of
all walks of life, and their legacy is astounding.
Possible DVD choices (available at Netflix.com)
• “Bluegrass Journey” (2004) A treat for the eyes and ears, this musical documentary charts the
history -- and captures the joyful spirit -- of bluegrass through interviews with and performances
from some of the most celebrated artists of the genre. Featured acts include the Del McCoury
Band, Nickel Creek, Jerry Douglas and Tim O'Brien. Fusing traditional Appalachian folk music
with the energy of the blues, the timeless sound of bluegrass continues to win over new fans.
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