Amos, hello,

For starters, of the revivalists who specialize in this music, look at anything that has ever been recorded by the The Philo Glee And Mandolin Society(one LP), the New Lost City Ramblers, the Double Decker String Band, Mac Benford, Alice Girrard and Hazel Dickens---.

In the 1960s, these people learned the old-timey structures and sounds and instrumentalities from the great exponents of this music that had first recorded it thirty years earlier. The N.L.C.R. especially taught the generations following them exactly what OLD-TIMEY music was, is, and how to do it. Some bands, like the amazing Red Clay Ramblers took old-timey music in other directions that were wonderfully inventive while still retaining the old-timey sound inherent in earlier inventive bands bands like Charlie Poole and his North Carolina Ramblers.

In choosing their name, the N.L.C.Ramblers were tipping their hats to Charlie Poole and his ramblers. And the Red Clay Ramblers were tipping their hat in turn to Mike Seeger, Tom Paley, John Cohen and Tracy Schwarz----the N.L.C.Ramblers. It realy is amazing how this music keeps on keeping on. As an old style words-loving folksinger, I mourn the passing of the balladeer in this brave new folkie scene. I think I know the secret of the survival of old-timey music though. It's a vital part of the social dancing community. As long as it remains a part of this dynamic social scene it will inspire the youth to pick up and learn these instruments and styles.--------------------------------- As folklorist Archie Green told me back in 1961 at the first University Of Chicago Folk Festival: "There's nothing like a square dance or a revival meeting for populating a new nation." ;-)

Art Thieme