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Why I'n making this page about the past present and future of American folk music
I'm making this page about folk music because folk is my favorite music genre, and certainly the 60's folk revival was one of the greatest if not THE greatest event in the history of music. Of course, American Folk Music had been around prior to the 60's as the next module and link below will show, but the folk revival of the 60's brought it into the mainstream of American popular music.
Folk music was music that had something to say and said it with great style, passion and beauty.
The solo artists, many of them singer/song writers, wrote and sang with great passion and feeling, and the groups had such unbelievably great and powerful harmonies which seemed by their very sharpness of sound to re-enforce the words--groups like Peter, Paul & Mary, The Kingston Trio, The Chad Mitchel Trio, & The Limelighters, to name just a few.
The words which the music re-inforced were never silly or sentamental but were primaily poems of protest and political or social comment. Thus, aside from it's pure bueaty and passion of expression, or perhaps because of these qualities, folk music made not only refected our Nation's history but also made an invaluable contribution to it in that it played a major role in shaping the political climate of the time, especially aiding in the civil rights movement. (Note the Amazon Spotlight below.)
But, where is folk music today? it seems to have pretty much disappeared from the scene in many circles. Since it was such a big thing in the 60's (The folk revival*) I can't believe that it would get as little attention as it does today.
Oh, it is still somewhat alive in various circles, as you will see, but what is it's future?
More on that later, but before we get the future of folk music, I've listed some articles on the rise of folk music in the link list below and some of the available books on the folk revival. Take a listen to some folk music on one or more of the 9 folk vidios I included in the YouTube module, especially if you're not familiar with it, and perhaps check out the DVD's available on Amazon.
Following this module, I have one on the fall of folk music and a more comprehensive article on it's history from about.com. Then after a listing of some of the folk albums available, I do get into the future of folk music and draw a conclusion with which you may or may not agree, and even offer an opposing view. Your feedback is appreciated.
Folk music was music that had something to say and said it with great style, passion and beauty.
The solo artists, many of them singer/song writers, wrote and sang with great passion and feeling, and the groups had such unbelievably great and powerful harmonies which seemed by their very sharpness of sound to re-enforce the words--groups like Peter, Paul & Mary, The Kingston Trio, The Chad Mitchel Trio, & The Limelighters, to name just a few.
The words which the music re-inforced were never silly or sentamental but were primaily poems of protest and political or social comment. Thus, aside from it's pure bueaty and passion of expression, or perhaps because of these qualities, folk music made not only refected our Nation's history but also made an invaluable contribution to it in that it played a major role in shaping the political climate of the time, especially aiding in the civil rights movement. (Note the Amazon Spotlight below.)
But, where is folk music today? it seems to have pretty much disappeared from the scene in many circles. Since it was such a big thing in the 60's (The folk revival*) I can't believe that it would get as little attention as it does today.
Oh, it is still somewhat alive in various circles, as you will see, but what is it's future?
More on that later, but before we get the future of folk music, I've listed some articles on the rise of folk music in the link list below and some of the available books on the folk revival. Take a listen to some folk music on one or more of the 9 folk vidios I included in the YouTube module, especially if you're not familiar with it, and perhaps check out the DVD's available on Amazon.
Following this module, I have one on the fall of folk music and a more comprehensive article on it's history from about.com. Then after a listing of some of the folk albums available, I do get into the future of folk music and draw a conclusion with which you may or may not agree, and even offer an opposing view. Your feedback is appreciated.
Past: The Rise of American folk Music
From the early days of spirituals from slaves to Joe Hill and his songs in support of the labor union movement in the earl part of the 20th century to Woody Guthry and the dust bowl ballads in the 30's and 40's to Bill Monre and the birth of bluegrass in the 40's folk music has always played an important part in American life. For a more complete history, click the blue link below. Past: history of American Folk Music
- A complete history of American Folk Music
- A more complete history of American Folk music from its beginning to its decline.
Past: The 60's Folk Revival
Bringing American folk music into the mainstream
- THE SIXTIES - Folk Music
- A portrait of the golden age of folk music, from your About Guide to Folk Music
- The Great Folk Scare and the Folkniks
- Folk Revival of the late 50s thru early 60s
"They believed if they sang loud and long enough they could change the world"??? - Roots revival - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Roots revival From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Past: Books on the American folk Revival
IT'S ROOTS, START, PEAK & FUTURE-?
Read what others say about the history of the folk revival and the future of folk..
The North American Folk Music Revival: Nation And Identity in the United States And Canada, 1945-1980 (Ashgate Popular and Folk Music Series)
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The Never-Ending Revival: Rounder Records and the Folk Alliance (Music in American Life)
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Wasn't That a Time!: Firsthand Accounts of the Folk Music Revival (American Folk Music and Musicians Series Number 1)
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Rainbow Quest: The Folk Music Revival and American Society, 1940-1970 (Culture, Politics, and Cold War)
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The American Folk Scene Dimensions Of The Folksong Revival
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Past: American folk music videos
This video shows the place of folk music in shaping the times. And I think you can easily hear the passion as well as see what I mean by the great harmony and this group is only one example.
Peter, Paul & Mary - Washington Peace March - 1971
Where Have All The Flowers Gone? -Peter, Paul and Mary
Bob Dylan & Joan Baez sing "God On Our Side" Newport 1964
Kingston Trio - M. T. A.
The Chad Mitchell Trio & John Denver
Limeliters Hootenanny First Episode, April 6, 1963
Pete Seeger - We shall overcome
Joan Baez - 500 Miles & There But Fortune (live)
So Long (It's Been Good To Know Yuh) - The Weavers
past: American folk Music DVD's on Amazon
![American Roots Music [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CZ6Z4H2ZL._SL75_.jpg)
Past: politics and American folk music
Songs for Political Action: Folk Music, Topical Songs and the American Left
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It's an Amazing collection of rare political songs
The book which accompanies the collection is very informative.
Release Date: 04/16/1996
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Past: The decline of American Folk Music
The following is q quote from the above link "A complete history of American Folk Music." I copy it here to put it in proper perspective in this lesne:
"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."
"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."
present / future: -- The Fall of American folk Music
Why didn't it last? Where is it today? Where will it be tomorrow?
The link below has a more detailed history of folk music.
As you can see from the above quote, starting with the 70's American folk music began to decline. Rock again took top billing on the charts. But, although many rock groups did have good harmony, none could match the folk sound. The Birds were close with their folk-rock sound, covering many songs of Bob Dylan and other folk songs. Today, the oldies station will play the Birds, but just try to get them to play Peter, Paul & Mary.
So, whatever happened to folk? It is not even a category in the Grammys or any music award shows today. The only time I hear folk music on the radio is in a 3 hour program on Sunday afternoon on public radio called "folk and acoustic music" and much of that is acoustic and not folk--much is more bluegrass which is really more like country.
Many online and mail CD clubs don't even list folk as genre. Go into many CD stores, both new CD stores and the ever popular CD exchanges and you will be hard pressed to find folk as a category. If they even have any "folk" CD's they will be very few and tucked away under "country" or some other obscure category.
The Showtime section of our local paper, in listing upcoming concerts and appearances by music genre never lists any under folk. If there are folk artists they are listed under "country" or "bluegrass."
So, can we say that folk is music's lost genre?
However, as the end of the article below states, there has been some resurgence of folk music in recent years; and as the title of second book in the book list above indicates, the revival does go on, no matter how small in scope. Despite his positive tile, his first chapter is "Where Have All The Folksies Gone?" which he answers in his last chapter: "Gone to the internet." So perhaps this is where folk's future lies.
As you can see from the above quote, starting with the 70's American folk music began to decline. Rock again took top billing on the charts. But, although many rock groups did have good harmony, none could match the folk sound. The Birds were close with their folk-rock sound, covering many songs of Bob Dylan and other folk songs. Today, the oldies station will play the Birds, but just try to get them to play Peter, Paul & Mary.
So, whatever happened to folk? It is not even a category in the Grammys or any music award shows today. The only time I hear folk music on the radio is in a 3 hour program on Sunday afternoon on public radio called "folk and acoustic music" and much of that is acoustic and not folk--much is more bluegrass which is really more like country.
Many online and mail CD clubs don't even list folk as genre. Go into many CD stores, both new CD stores and the ever popular CD exchanges and you will be hard pressed to find folk as a category. If they even have any "folk" CD's they will be very few and tucked away under "country" or some other obscure category.
The Showtime section of our local paper, in listing upcoming concerts and appearances by music genre never lists any under folk. If there are folk artists they are listed under "country" or "bluegrass."
So, can we say that folk is music's lost genre?
However, as the end of the article below states, there has been some resurgence of folk music in recent years; and as the title of second book in the book list above indicates, the revival does go on, no matter how small in scope. Despite his positive tile, his first chapter is "Where Have All The Folksies Gone?" which he answers in his last chapter: "Gone to the internet." So perhaps this is where folk's future lies.
American folk music, it's rise, it's fall, it's future
A Comprehensive article from About.com
- A really comprehensive History of American Folk Music
- A brief history of one of America's richest traditions - American folk music.
past: Anthology of American folk music
It's all here in one place and you can't beat the price
The Harry Smith Project: The Anthology Of American Folk Music Revisited (2 CD/2 DVD BOX SET)
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Disc 4 - Documentary DVD:
The brand-new documentary, The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith Anthology Of American Folk Music, will take you on an eclectic musical journey through "The Old, Weird America." Hal Willner's Harry Smith Project concerts celebrate the eccentric genius collector and his influential Anthology Of American Folk Music. Instrumental in helping inspire the urban folk revival of the 1960s, the Anthology's continuing impact on modern music is incalculable. This film is available nowhere else
Release Date: 10/24/2006
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past: More 60's American folk music CD's on Amazon
past: American Folk Music on eBay
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Present: Some Modern American Folk music
Future: American folk music, it's future
- Public Radio and Folk Music
- Public Radio and Folk Music from The International Musician, January, 1990 There was a period of time...a short period of time...when folk music was a small part of America's listening menu. When transistor radios, like battery-powered life-support systems, where plugged into young ears under bedcov
Future: The Future of American folk Music
On The Positive Side (Sort-of).
Here are a few sort-of positive things to add to the last part of the last article on the above link list.
Of course there are occasional specials on folk music on the public T.V. stations, though they're few and far between and interrupted by pledge breaks.
There are some local folk groups which get together from time to time and there are still the annual folk festivals, but it seems to be a cult thing with few followers.
I have to admit I was surprised to find so much folk on Youtube. And Barns & noble, Amazon and even Ebay do have it as a catagory--I wonder for how long?
Of course there are occasional specials on folk music on the public T.V. stations, though they're few and far between and interrupted by pledge breaks.
There are some local folk groups which get together from time to time and there are still the annual folk festivals, but it seems to be a cult thing with few followers.
I have to admit I was surprised to find so much folk on Youtube. And Barns & noble, Amazon and even Ebay do have it as a catagory--I wonder for how long?
Future?: American folk music and THE GRAMMYS
Perhaps I'm being too negative, but I just feel that folk should have a more prominate place among music genres today--especially it should be a catagory in the Grammys. I think it was for a while after the Kingston trio did so well with "Tom Duley." There wasn't a catagory for it then, so they were declared best country group. The catagory was added later, but as folk's popularity wained, it was dropped. Since there are still folk singers and folk groups struggeling to make their way today, why don't they add it back?
READ WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:
IS AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC REALLY DEAD?
- IS AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC REALLY DEAD?
- An Amazon discussion
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IS AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC REALLY DEAD?
by faithfuljim
I am a Seminary graduate, Bible teacher, article writer, Published Christian fiction author and publisher of an inspirational success ezine.
I was bo... (more)
I was bo... (more)
