Ep 13 - 60 Years Of Folk, Part 1: Come for to Sing

The Archives Podcast

Sixty years ago, in the holiday season of 1957, Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music first opened its doors. This Thanksgiving Day, The Archives celebrates the 60th anniversary with a six-part documentary on the school’s history, through the voices and songs of the people who were there. This first episode tells the remarkable story of how Win Stracke, Frank Hamilton, Dawn Greening and Gertrude Soltker came together to found the Old Town School--featuring archival music and recordings from Studs Terkel, Pete Seeger, and the founders themselves, as well as many of the people who participated in our oral history project with StoryCorps this past year. Go to oldtownschool.org/StoryCorps to hear more of the stories we gathered, and to learn more about this ongoing partnership. Original recordings featured in this episode (in order of occurrence): - “Glory of Love” performed by Big Bill Broonzy live at Circle Pines Center, circa 1950s - StoryCorps conversation between Ron Cohen & Bob Riesman, 5/20/2017 - “Blues on Big Bill Broonzy guitar” performed by Chris Walz live at 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 6/17/2011 - StoryCorps interview of Jane Stracke by Mareva Lindo, 6/5/2017 - “Wandering,” performed by Win Stracke, Old Town School Compendium, circa 1965 - “The Trees Are All Ivied” performed by Win Stracke, Win Stracke Live with Studs Terkel, 3/19/1982 - “Ballad of the Boll Weevil” performed by Win Stracke, Old Town School Compendium, circa 1965 - Studs Terkel interview by Paul Tyler, Old Town School 35th anniversary interviews, 1992 - Win Stracke interview by Studs Terkel, Win Stracke Live with Studs Terkel, 3/19/1982 - “In the Evening” performed by Frank Hamilton live at 333 W North Ave, 4/15/1962 - Frank Hamilton interviews by Mareva Lindo, 7/27/2015 and 2/12/2016 - “Old Blue” performed by Guy Carawan live at the Armstrong home, 8/13/1978 - “Nine Hundred Miles” from Old Town School Compendium, circa 1965 - “Roll the Union On,” performed by Pete Seeger live at People’s Church, 5/17/1986 - Pete Seeger interview by Paul Tyler, Old Town School 35th anniversary interviews, 1992 - StoryCorps conversation between Lance Greening & Rick Veras, 5/8/2017 - Dawn Greening interview by Paul Tyler, Old Town School 35th anniversary interviews, 1992 - “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round,” performed by Odetta live at 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 10/30/2004 - “Methodist Pie” performed by Win Stracke live at 333 W North Ave, 4/15/1962 - “Vranjanka (Serbia)” performed by Valucha deCastro and Frank Hamilton live at 333 W North Ave, 4/15/1962 - “Witch Upon A Hill” performed by Ted Johnson live at 333 W North Ave, 10/10/1964 - StoryCorps conversation between Ted Johnson and Marcia Johnson, 3/22/2017 References and recommended reading: - Chicago Folk: Images of the Sixties Music Scene by Ronald D. Cohen & Bob Riesman - Rainbow Quest: The Folk Music Revival and American Society, 1940-1970 by Ronald D. Cohen