Hello Azizi, Barry, et al! Thanks again for starting this thread, Azizi!

Barry's post calls for some reflection and response. Barry, you make many good points, and I am not trying to disagree with the majority of what you said in your post. Hopefully, this will build on your post.

Barry, the "old" folk music, that which was passed down strictly through the oral tradition, was done so because there WERE no alternatives (except writing them down, and many folkies didn't read or write music, and some were illiterate). After recording technology was developed, of course, Lomax et al started recording people, and some went on from there to get careers as recording artists. I wish there had been more "Lomaxes" and they had recorded the other groups that you mentioned. I fear that there are few who remember the songs that those groups must have sung as they worked and entertained themselves.

In more recent times there is little need for another "Lomax" to record people--people who sing and play know that there is a way to record themselves, and market those recordings. The other side of that coin is that people no longer sing while they work, unless they are singing along with recordings, radio, etc. Most people don't sing with others for the fun of it, except for those who sing in church.

I don't think that you can say that "folk music" is either the music that was passed down by oral tradition from before there was recording technology, or the music that is labeled "folk music" and marketed to "folkies". IMHO, folk SONGS are those that are singable, and those that people who sing for their own pleasure like to sing.

The Philly FSS has two annual weekends rather like the Getaway, with somewhat less emphasis on the "trad" part of folk music. At these weekends, in addition to workshops focussed on Irish and bluegrass music, there are also workshops on doo wop, the Beatles and the British Invasion, the Grateful Dead, etc.

Certainly many songs that were once considered "country music" or "blues" have now been "adopted" into the "folk music" category. I think that many songs that were first categorized as "R&B", "soul" and "rock" deserve to be officially "adopted" into the folk genre as well.

On another thread there was discussion of how in some areas or organizations, folk music is synonomous with singer-songwritiers. I like a whole bunch of S/S'ers, but there are others whose tunes don't catch my ear, whose lyrics don't speak to my heart. At the same time, there are songs in the doo wop, soul, and rock categories that I could take to a song circle, and know the whole place would be singing with me in a heartbeat.

As far as why more African-Americans are not singing and playing older A-A music, I recall there was some discussion of that earlier in this thread. I do believe there is a sentiment in the A-A community that favors more modern music, movies, etc. My guess is that people feel uncomfortable being reminded of slavery and segregation times. I also think that A-A culture, like American culture in general, favors stars, top 40 hits, etc.

There are festivals that do draw many A-A attenders, but they tend to be in urban areas, and don't involve camping, etc. Both Philly and Wilmington DE have reggae festivals in their riverfront recreation areas, for instance.

Anyway, I don't think you side-swiped the thread, Barry. I may have committed a bigger sin myself--resurrecting the "What is folk music?" issue again! Please forgive me, and let the discussion continue!

Marymac