Black American Folk Singers of Today

Subject: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: GUEST,Bob Mills
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 11:53 PM

Are there any Black American folk singers (non - famous, semi famous or somewhat famous), who sing traditional folk music and perhaps popular sixties folk songs? If so, who are they and are they currently touring, performing and recording? I'm not talking about folk-blues singers, just Black folk singers of traditional, popular folk and contemporary folk. I know of Tracy Chapman (contemporary folk), but, who are the others?

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 12:36 AM

Sparky Rucker for one.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 12:49 AM

Vance Gilbert is fabulous. He tours around the country, plays guitar with a jazzy style and sings his own original songs that will make you weep one minute and bust up laughing the next. The guy is great.

Mike

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 08:07 AM

Joe Thompson.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: GUEST,Amira Barzani
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 10:25 AM

Josh White, Jr.
Sweet Honey In the Rock
Len Chandler (still around since the 1960s)
Luci Murphy
Jack Landron
Kim & Reggie Harris
Randy Harris (no relation)
Guy Davis
Mary Nell Morgan
Matt Jones
Eric Bibb (son of Leon Bibb)
Bud & Tina Wright (bluegrass, but close enough)

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 02:52 PM

no one mentioned Odetta?????

Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir are not to be missed!

I think we also need to define what we consider "folk music". Every tradition brings something to the table.   "Folk-blues" is certainly a folk music in my book. Labels tend to confine instead of define.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: jaze
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 03:31 PM

Richie Havens

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: harpgirl
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 04:51 PM

Veronica Jackson

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: harpgirl
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 04:53 PM

oops,Veronika Jackson
I spelled it wrong:

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: michaelr
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 05:06 PM

Alvin Youngblod Hart.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Janice in NJ
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 05:13 PM

The great BLAF Singer (Black Lesbian American Folk Singer) Hillary Kay. Click for info.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Azizi
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 05:35 PM

Ella Jenkins {children's rhymes}

Also what about Zydeco music such as Chavis and Buckwheat Zydeco
and & recordings of New Orleans Wild Indian groups such as Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias and the Guardians Of The Flame Mardi Gras Indians?

See this excerpt on Zydeco music: http://www.cajunculture.com/Other/zydeco.htm

"Zydeco is a popular accordion-based musical genre hailing from the prairies of south-central and southwest Louisiana. Contrary to popular belief, it is not Cajun in origin; rather, zydeco is the music of south Louisiana's Creoles of Color, who borrowed many of zydeco's defining elements from Cajun music. (In turn, Cajun music borrowed many of its traits from Creole music.) The word zydeco (also rendered zarico, zodico, zordico, and zologo) derives from the French expression les haricots, meaning "beans." Folk etymology holds that the genre obtained this name from the common Creole expression "Les haricots sont pas salés" ("The beans aren't salty"). This phrase has appeared in many Creole songs, and serves as the title of a popular zydeco recording (also called "Zydeco est pas salé").   Without debunking this etymology, folklorist Barry Jean Ancelet has noted that this explanation has been generally accepted without much critical analysis. He also has observed that variations on the word zydeco appear in black French songs from as far away as the Indian Ocean. Most interestingly, Ancelet contends that Les haricots sont pas salés is a lyrical metaphor for difficult times: in the past, Creoles seasoned their food, such as beans (les haricots), with salted meat — when times were bad, salted meat became too expensive, which explained why "the beans aren't salty." Zydeco is actually the most modern form of Creole music from Acadiana, and it first appeared after World War II, when pioneers of the genre like Clifton Chenier and BooZoo Chavis combined more traditional sounds with new rhythm and blues elements. In fact, the first zydeco-ish recording was Clarence Garlow's hit "Bon Ton Roula," issued in 1949 on the Macy's label.   (Earlier forms of la musique créole were called, for instance, juré, la-la, and pic-nic, and are perhaps best represented by the recordings of Creole accordionist Amédé Ardoin.) Zydeco has evolved considerably over the decades, and now draws on pop music sources like soul, disco, rap, and even reggae.   It also is increasingly performed in English, instead of in its original Creole dialect. And, oddly, it generally is regarded as "party music" — even though early zydeco drew heavily on "low-down" blues elements (as demonstrated by Clifton Chenier's repertoire). Zydeco frequently appears in movies, TV programs, and commercials — even more so than Cajun music, which, unlike zydeco, has retained much of its traditional flavor. It has attracted a loyal worldwide outside Louisiana, as demonstrated by the large numbers of "zydeco dancers" on the east and west coasts. Despite its commercialization (and Americanization), zydeco remains a relevant means of cultural expression for the Creoles of Acadiana."

Sources: Ancelet, "Zydeco/Zarico"; Bernard, Swamp Pop; Brasseaux et al., Creoles of Color; Broven, South to Louisiana; Savoy, Cajun Music; Tisserand, Kingdom of Zydeco.
---
Also, see this excerpt from http://www.mardigrasindians.com

Mardi Gras is full of secrets and the Mardi Gras Indians are as much a part of that secret society as any other carnival organization. The Mardi Gras Indians are comprised, in large part, of the blacks of New Orleans' inner cities. They have paraded for well over a century...yet their parade is perhaps the least recognized Mardi Gras tradition.

"Mardi Gras Indians--the parade most white people don't see. The ceremonial procession is loose, the parade is not scheduled for a particular time or route...that is up to the Big Chief." - Larry Bannock

Typical Mardi Gras organizations will form a "krewe." A krewe often names their parade after a particular mythological hero or Greek god. The ranking structure of a Mardi Gras Krewe is a parody of royalty: King, Queen, Dukes, Knights and Captains...or some variation on that theme. Many more established Krewes allowed membership by invitation only.

Few in the ghetto felt they could ever participate in the typical New Orleans parade. Historically, slavery and racism were at the root of this cultural separation. The black neighborhoods in New Orleans gradually developed their own style of celebrating Mardi Gras. Their "Krewes" are named for imaginary Indian tribes according to the streets of their ward or gang.

The Mardi Gras Indians named themselves after native Indians to pay them respect for their assistance in escaping the tyranny of slavery. It was often local Indians who accepted slaves into their society when they made a break for freedom. They have never forgotten this support....

It is now Mardi Gras tradition and practice for the Indians to simply compare their tribal song, dance and dress with other tribes as they meet that day. Each Indian has invested thousands of hours and dollars in the creation of his suit...

This tradition, rich with folk art and history, is now appreciated by museums and historical societies around the world."

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Janice in NJ
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 05:50 PM

Oh, I forgot Professor Julius Lester of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He holds joint appointments in the African-American Studies and Judaic Studies departments, and he is also a fine folk singer -- as well as a story teller, folklorist, and children's book author.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 06:55 PM

New Orleans music in general is a genre and a tradition unto itself that I certainly love and admire, but (fairly or not, logically or not), it is not normally considered to be "folk music."

Even within the culture of the Mardi Gras Indians, their costuming and artifacts, etc., seem to fulfill the criteria of being "folk art," but their music is not at all what most would classify as "folk music."

A less exotic and less primitive musical tradition than that of the Indians is the one personified by the brass bands, who carry on a tradition traceable directly back to Africa via early jazz, Creole dance music, and the drums of Congo Square. And my favorite music of all, the boogie-down sounds of Professor Longhair (and Allen Toussaint, Fats Domino, Dr. John, John Cleary, etc., etc.) -- what we used to call "R&B" until that tag started to mean something else entirely -- is directly descended from early "traditional" jazz in carrying on the imperative to get up and move. However, though it may be undeniably "traditional," it is definitely NOT what we consider "folk music."

Sorry -- didn't mean to start off on "What Is Folk?"

Anyway, if it makes sense to exclude blues artists like Taj Mahal and Keb Mo and Chris Thomas King from this discussion (and I understand why it *does* make a kind of sense), it's probably equally appropriate to exclude rhumba-boogie pianists, brass bands, and probably even the Indians. Those Indians, though -- they sure are some down-home *folks*!

For more on the indigenous sound of New Orleans:
listen to WWOZ for a random minute or two or three...

PS: What ever happened to Jackie Washington? I learned a good bit of fingerpicking from his album(s); for some reason, back when I was a rank beginner, I could hear and try to duplicate the notes and chords of his recordings more easily than anyone else's.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 07:11 PM

He died a while back, but let us not forget the activist and historian and performer of spirituals---Bayard Rustin.


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Azizi
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 07:11 PM

PoppaGator,
Good to see you here!

You said "..what we used to call "R&B" until that tag started to mean something else entirely -- is directly descended from early "traditional" jazz ... However, though it may be undeniably "traditional," it is definitely NOT what we consider "folk music."

Doesn't it depend who "WE" is?

Meaning, the way African Americans define folk music is probably going to be different than the way European-Americans define it.

It seems to me that Black folks or any other peoples should not allow ourselves to be restricted to one culture's definition of what constitutes folk music, or for that matter, what is classical music.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Janice in NJ
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 09:54 PM

Bill, are you certain Jackie Washington actually died, or do you just mean that the personna Jackie Washington died? Since the mid-1990's the artist formerly known as Jackie Washington has been performing under his real name, Jack Landron. I last saw him in June 2000 in a benefit concert for the Clearwater in New York City. Other performers that night included Paul Winter, David Amram, Pete Seeger, and the Johnson Girls. I know it has been more than four years, but I really hope he is still alive. He was just as magnificent as back in the Jackie Washington days.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 10:20 PM

Taj Mahal

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 11:09 PM

Hey Azizi -- when I was musing about what "WE" do and don't define as folk music, I meant "we" as the general public, how music is categorized for us when we shop for CDs or browse for radio stations, etc.

"Folk" in this sense includes a variety of acoustically-performed music that is not at all traditional (or which may be *arguably* written and/or performed "following" a tradition), and at the same time pointedly excludes a good bit of tradition-steeped "roots" music that can be assigned to other categories (e.g., blues, trad-jazz, rock).

It may not be the most logical or accurate definition of "folk music" - indeed, it has triggered more than enough argument hereabouts -- but it's a common reference. When we go to the record store, most of us (black and white alike) know what sort of thing will be found in the racks labelled "folk music" and what will have to be found elsewhere.

That's all I meant!

Suddenly, "What is R&B?" seems to have become as open-ended and controversial a question as "what is folk?" While I wasn't looking, this term started to beused for music that is neither rhythmic nor bluesey -- syrupy "soul" ballads with a lot of synthesized strings. Not like T-Bone Walker, Guitar Slim, Little Richard, etc., at all...

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 12:11 AM

As Janice mentioned, Jackie Washington (Landron) is alive and well, at least the last I heard. This past January he appeared at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine with the Hudson Vagabond Puppets in a performance for Three Kings Day. He is primarily an actor and a writer these days.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: GUEST,John Hernandez
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 11:00 AM

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Jimmie Collier, the late Rev. Kirkpatrick's musical partner from the days of the civil rights movement. In recent years Jimmie Collier has mostly done educational programs, introducing school children the traditional music of the Old West, with particular emphasis on the music of the black cowboys, ranchers, miners, and railroad hands.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 11:37 AM

The Georgia Sea Island singers are still performing and putting on wonderful shows.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: GUEST,Cynthia Simien, Louisiana
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 07:00 PM

What a thought provoking question. Since The Recording Academy (the Grammy folks) categorize the indigenous Zydeco music of the black and multiracial French speaking Creoles of Louisiana as Traditional and Contemporary Folk then there are oodles more black folk artists. However not since Tracy Chapman won one in 1988 or Ladysmith Black Mambazo 1987 has any black folk singer/artist ever garnered a Grammy. We are working to establish a separate Grammy category for this indigenous genre of music. Corey Harris is another example of an artist who is versed in many forms of roots/folk music.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 11:11 PM

The Menhaden Chanteymen
The Northern Neck Chanteymen
The Golden Gate Quartet

Is Leon Bibb still around?

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 01:03 AM

Three outta four of the Gospel Messengers (and Jerry is an Honourary Black American Folksinger) IMO.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 11:54 AM

Keb Mo'?

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Dani
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 12:29 PM

Sweet Honey in the Rock
Cootie Stark
Joe Higgs

Dani

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: PoppaGator
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 02:12 PM

As I mentioned in some other thread not long ago, you can add Chris Thomas King to the short list of young-ish black acoustic blues players, along with Corey Harris, Keb Mo, and the not-quite-so-young-anymore Taj Mahal.

(Since Taj is part of my age-group ~ actually a few years older than me ~ I still foolishly think of him as "young.")

Now, are bluesmen folk singers? Whole 'nother discussion.

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Azizi
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 06:56 PM

I've heard a tape of Jerry Rasmussen's group including some songs that he composed and I'd be proud to consider him a "honorary African American."

Do you want to join the club too, Brucie?

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 08:33 PM

Yeah, Keb Mo, mah main man Sparky Rucker, Alvin Houngblood Hart and Richie Havens all fall into the "Black American Fold Singers" category and all are good, real good...

Let me also add to this list Corey Harris, Guy Davis, John Cephas (or Cephas and Wiggins), Mike Baytop (with whom I play), Ash Grumwald (Austrailian), Deborah Coleman and the late Ted Hawkins, to name just a few...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Michael S
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 10:05 PM

Ruthie Foster of Texas

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 10:37 PM

(Leon Bibb is alive and living in Canada)...Miriam Makeba is also around.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 12:32 AM

Thanks, Bill H.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: WILDSANG
Date: 20 Apr 05 - 10:33 PM

Hey Yall - Saw the note that Janice from NJ wrote. Thank you for the acknowledgement. Nice to know some folks are listening. Check out my latest stuff at our website WILDSANG.com. http://www.wildsang.com

SKY DIRT SPEAK OUT TRUTH is an intense traditional blues CD and it is our latest project. Love to hear from you about the music, or good clubs, or radio stations in your area and this info helps our grassroots effort. Once again, thanks for the feedback. Peace and Stay Blue. Sincerely, Hillary of WILDSANG. email- [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: WILDSANG
Date: 21 Apr 05 - 12:02 AM

...Oh yeah...I guess I should have clarified things more... its Hillary Kay here...Black Lesbian
American Folksinger, who has gone off and gotten herself hopelessly lost and climbing around in the Deep Blues with only a National Resonator guitar for a paddle... never to come up for air...ohhh yeahhh.   I am one half of the Acoustic Blues duo WILDSANG, which employs the time honored blues collaboration of Guitar/Harmonica/Voice. My partner is Kate Freeman, an amazing Harp player in her own right. Our latest CD SKY DIRT SPEAK OUT TRUTH is available through CD BABY.

In the effort to name Black Folk Singers, with the awareness that Folk music is
music made by the folks...

Ben Harper
Otis Taylor
Robert Nesta Marley
Michael Franti of Spearhead

Anyway you Mud Cats... good to make contact and thanks for the nod my way.
Hope to hear from you. Peace,
Hillary Kay of WILDSANG

Subject: RE: Black American Folk Singers of Today
From: greg stephens
Date: 21 Apr 05 - 07:35 AM

Re the discussion of zydeco earlier. A mention should be made here of JC Gallow, of Mamou, Louisiana. He has been active for many many years in keeping the old La La/Creole style going, with the Lawtell Playboys, various Broussard family members, also BeBe and Calin Carriere etc. I think Delton broussard and Calvin Carriere are gone now, so JC Gallow may be the only sugnificant survivor of that musical world. The kids brought up in the older music are carrying on as muscians, but have largely gone over to zydeco as far as I know. As with Gino Delaqfose taking over from his father John: Gino plays a few of the old tunes in quite a creole way, but he;'s basically a zydeco man. So if you here of JC Gallow, talk to him while you have the chance. He knows stuff that is going.
Re the etymolgy of zydeco and its linguistic variants zarico etc. Lightning Hopkins recorded a song called Zola Go, as far as I remember.