Floyd Ming and the Pep Steppers, Nelstones Hawaians, The Masked Marvel, Doc Boggs, Clarence Ashley, The Carter Family, Blind Willie Johnson... just the names send shivers down my spine. They are just a sampling of what makes the Anthology of American Folk Music such a treasure, and endless resource for music.

I came to New York City in 1960, and thought folk music was Lonnie Donegan, the Kingston Trio, Bob Gibson and Harry Belefonte. Shortly after I arrived, I discovered Greenwich Village and Dave Van Ronk. For three months, I took lessons from Dave and part of each lesson was to listen to songs he'd play from the Anthology. He'd be sitting on the edge of his bed, and I'd be sitting in an old straight chair, and he'd gently place the needle on one of the records, and out would come these amazing sounds. I first heard the Carter Family then, and I remember the chills going down my spine when he played Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground by Blind Willie Johnson. At one time, I played just about every song on the Songs and Ballads records. Those albums formed much of the foundation of the folk revival here in America. I'm not aware of an exact equivalent in England or Ireland, but I had individual albums by singers like A.L. Lloyd, Ewan McColl and Jean Redpath that excited me in much the same way. But, A.L., Ewan and Jean were very much alive. I never did hear any collection of earlier traditional singers.

Now, I hear people refer to James Taylor, Paul Simon or Joanie Mitchell as their sources, and their eyes glaze over if you mention Clarence Ashley or even Mississippi John Hurt. It seems like over here, there's more Irish Tradional music being played by Americans than American traditional music. Every radio station has their "Irish Hour," but no one has an "American Hour." I stopped playing The Cuckoo, as I learned it from the classic Clarence Ashley recording, because I thought it was as over sung as White Christmas.
That was, until I realized that very few people had heard it.

What I want to know is, which Mudcatters still love the Anthology (or similar recordings) and are carrying on the tradition of American folk music? Who sings Peg and Awl?, or John Johanna? Henry Lee? (I know Sandy and Caroline sing that one) The Butcher's Boy? Fatal Flower Garden? Spike Driver Blues?

And, any thoughts, observations or prejudices about the relative popularity of Irish and American folk music in this country? or being in a band and being more instrumentally focused than being a singer who plays an instrument for accompaniment? Many, if not most of us come out of a rock and roll and pop music environment... are we more attuned to hearing bands than a solo performer? Who can still enjoy unaccompanied solo singing? (I can) Or, any a capella music.

Times change and tastes change. Is there still a love of the old American music? And what counterparts are there with our British friends?

Jerry

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