by 4 people |
Why I'm making this page about the past present and future of American folk 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. I've also included a link to a CD of rare recordings of political songs.
Following this module, I have one on the decline and anothr on the fall of American folk music and a link to 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. Please take a moment to vote in the pole at the end. Tnanks.
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
Click the links below for a complete history of American folk music
- Roots of American Folk Music
- A brief look at the roots of American Folk music as brought here by imigrants from various countries.
- The History of American Folk Music
- A more complete look at the roots and formation of American Folk music from The American Appalachia region, early New England, Native American culture, African American culture, the Cowboys of western America, and the first settlers from England, Ireland, and Scotland.
- 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. Click the links below.
- The Folk Music Revival
- The roots and complete history of the 60's folk music revival by artist or group
- 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-?
The North American Folk Music Revival: Nation And Identity in the United States And Canada, 1945-1980 (Ashgate Popular and Folk Music Series)
The first comparative study of the folk revival movement in Anglophone Canada and the United States and combines this with discussion of the way folk music intersected with, and was structured by, conceptions of national affinity and national identity. Students will find the book useful as an introduction, not only to key themes in the folk revival, but also to concepts in the study of national identity and to topics in American and Canadian cultural history. Academic specialists will encounter an alternative perspective from the more general, broad approach offered by earlier histories of the folk revival movement.
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Rainbow Quest: The Folk Music Revival and American Society, 1940-1970 (Culture, Politics, and Cold War)
reconstructs the history of the folk-music revival in the States, tracing its origins to the early decades of the 20th century. Drawing on scores of interviews and numerous manuscript collections, as well as his own extensive files, Cohen shows how a broad range of traditions - from hillbilly, gospel, blues and sea shanties to cowboy, ethnic and political-protest music - all contributed to the genre known as folk. Cohen documents the crucial work of John Lomax and other collectors who, with the assistance of recording companies, preserved and distributed folk music in the 1920s. During the 1930s and 1940s, the emergence of left-wing politics and the rise of the commercial music marketplace helped to stimulate wider interest in folk music. As Cohen explains, stars emerged, such as Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, Pete Seeger, Burl Ives and Josh White. With the success of the Weavers and the Kingston Trio in the 1950s, the stage was set for the full-blown "folk revival" of the early 1960s. This book should be of interest to those teaching or taking courses in American music of the 20th century.
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Which Side Are You On?: An Inside History of the Folk Music Revival in America
touches on the motives of some folksong collectors and explores the definition of "folksong" and the idea of "authenticity" in folk music. ...contains an interesting, albeit brief, segment on the rise and fall of folk-rock.. Among the most interesting sections are those on folksong as protest music and the blacklisting of folk singers, particularly The Weavers. Throughout the volume, big name artists such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez appear, and Weissman discusses them in the contexts of their predecessors and the marketplace. Weissman's prose is casual, sometimes awkwardly so, and his knowledge of people, places and repertoire, and the connections between them, is so extensive that at times passages can read like cumbersome lists of names. Folk enthusiasts will appreciate this nearly one-stop shop of American folk history, but anyone with a casual interest in the form may find Weissman's information onslaught too overwhelming.
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When We Were Good: The Folk Revival
Complete with copius references, this serious treatment of the folk revival is recommended for larger music and social history collections.
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"NUMBER #1": the story of the original Highwaymen: a journey through folk music history-- the Folk Revivals, "The Great Folk Music Scare" and their legacies
tells the story of folk music-- especially at its commercial success-- through the lens of the Highwaymen and their experiences. The history of folk music is traced from its roots, through the crucible of the Great Depression and World War II, and into the 1950s and 1960s, where it experienced its greatest popularity. The story continues as the legacy of folk music continues into the 21st century. The Highwaymen-- yes, the originals-- are still singing together and still celebrating the folk tradition with songs old and new. Relive the songs of yesterday, celebrate the sounds of today, and look forward to the music of tomorrow with "NUMBER #1".
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Past: American folk music videos
past: American folk Music DVD's
![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
Amazon Price: $358.98 (as of 01/02/2010)
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It's an Amazing collection of rare political songs
The book which accompanies the collection is very informative.
If one is interested in the Almanac Singers, the early recordings of Josh White, or Peekskill, this is a must have.
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."
present: 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 Byrds were close with their folk-rock sound, covering many songs of Bob Dylan and other folk songs. Today, the oldies station will play the Byrds, 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" (see link below) and much of that is acoustic and not folk--much is more bluegrass which is really more like country. See the link below for more on this weekly program.
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."
Present: an example of folk music on Public Radio
- Folk and accustic music on public radio
- description of the weekly program "Folk and Accustic Music" on WLRN pulbic radio.
Past, Present, Future: American folk music, it's rise, it's fall, it's future
A Comprehensive article from About.com
As the end of the article below states, there has been some resurgence of folk music in recent years;
- A really comprehensive History of American Folk Music
- A brief history of one of America's richest traditions - American folk music.
Past, Present & especially THE FUTURE: The Never Ending Revival
IS AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC REALLY DEAD?
The Never-Ending Revival: Rounder Records and the Folk Alliance (Music in American Life)
Amazon Price: $40.00 (as of 01/02/2010)
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)
Amazon Price: $59.98 (as of 01/02/2010)
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Used Price: $40.98
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
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).
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?
Check out this article
"Where, oh, where have the good old songs gone:
Future?: American folk music and THE GRAMMYS
READ WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:
IS AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC REALLY DEAD?
- IS AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC REALLY DEAD?
- An Amazon discussion
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
PLEASE VOTE IN THIS POLE
SOUND OFF
GIVE YOUR REASONS FOR VOTING THE WAY YOU DID. WHY OR WHY NOT IS AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC REALL DEAD?
Links to my other folk music lenses
- Peter Paul and Mary, Durable Folk Group
- All about this great folk group, their start in the 60's revival and their durability.
- The Kingston Trio, Unique and Influencial Folk Group
- All about this great folk group, their unique and surprising start and their influence in bringing folk music into the mainstream of American popular music.
- Bob Dylan, God's Poet
- Bob dylan was a prolific protest song writer of the 60's folk revival. Was he unknowingly an instrument of God?
by faithfuljim
I was bo... (more)
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