March 2009 Newsletter

Dear Supporter,

New Release: Classic Protest Songs from Smithsonian Folkways - Save 20%

Classic Protest Songs from Smithsonian Folkways, a bold collection of songs from the 1940s, '50s, and '60s that pays homage to movements of conscience and voices of dissent, is now available on CD and Digital Download. Classic Protest Songs, the 17th compilation from the popular Classic Series, features music from Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Janis Ian, Big Bill Broonzy, Pete Seeger, Barbara Dane, Guy Carawan, Phil Ochs, two Bob Dylan covers, and a previously unreleased track from 1946 by Champion Jack Dupree titled "I'm Going to Write the Governor of Georgia."

Enter code CLASSICPROTEST from now until March 31st to save 20% off retail price on Classic Protest Songs (discount applies to CD version only).

Free Download and Memorial Gathering to Honor John Cephas
Piedmont blues legend John Cephas passed away March 4th at the age of 78. Smithsonian Folkways was fortunate enough to record and release John Cephas and his longtime partner Phil Wiggins on Richmond Blues last year.

Click here for a free download of the classic "John Henry" from Richmond Blues through March 31st.

Family, friends, musical colleagues, and admirers of John Cephas will gather at the National Museum of Natural History's Baird Auditorium in Washington, D.C., at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 29th. Please click here for more information.

New Releases for April
On April 21st, Smithsonian Folkways will release Pete Seeger: American Favorite Ballads Vols. 1-5 (Box Set). Stay tuned for more information about this box set, and join us in wishing Pete a happy 90th birthday on May 3rd!

Also on April 21st, Smithsonian Folkways will release Son de Mi Tierra, a vibrant new son jarocho album from the forward-looking group Son de Madera from Veracruz, Mexico.

Smithsonian Folkways Trivia!
Each month we'll ask a trivia question; email your answer, name, and address with the subject "March Trivia" to smithsonianfolkways_at_si_dot_edu by March 31st and a randomly selected entrant with the correct answer will win a free CD of his or her choice!

March Question: What artist notably re-worked Lead Belly’s song "Bourgeois Blues" (which appears on Classic Protest Songs from Smithsonian Folkways) in 2006, and what was the name of the new version?

Congratulations to last month's winner, John from Placerville, CA, who correctly answered "Khigh Diegh" to February's question: What actor, best known for a role in the television series Hawaii Five-O, recorded a spoken word album for Folkways in 1965? Diegh, who played the villain Wo Fat in the series, recorded the album St. John of the Cross: Volume II, in 1965. We would have also accepted Will Geer, known for his role as Grandpa Walton in The Waltons, who appeared in one episode of Hawaii Five-O and on seven albums for Smithsonian Folkways.

New Release

Essential Picks

News and Notes

• Clearwater, a non-profit organization created to defend and restore the Hudson River, is hosting a benefit concert May 3rd at Madison Square Garden in celebration of Pete's 90th birthday. Those scheduled to appear include Pete, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Eddie Vedder, John Mellencamp, Billy Bragg and Smithsonian Folkways artists Larry Long, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Toshi Reagon,Tony Trischka, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and Tom Paxton. Visit www.seeger90.com for a complete list of performers and ticket information.
• On February 15th, Elizabeth Cotten (1895-1987) was inducted into the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) Hall of Fame.
• On May 7th, Reverend Gary Davis (1896-1972) will be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
• Celebrate National Poetry Month in April with a Smithsonian Folkways album!