S7E382 - The Anthology Of American Folk Music with Matthew Sabatella
When this week's guest, musician/music historian Matthew Sabatella discovered Harry Smith's 'The Anthology Of American Folk Music' in the late 90s, it literally changed the direction of his own musical journey. This amazing collection of recordings...
When this week's guest, musician/music historian Matthew Sabatella discovered Harry Smith's 'The Anthology Of American Folk Music' in the late 90s, it literally changed the direction of his own musical journey. This amazing collection of recordings made and issued from 1926 to 1933 by a variety of performers got under his skin, and eventually moved him to found Ballad of America, Inc., a nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve and celebrate music from America’s diverse cultural history.
Songs discussed in this episode: Henry Lee - Dick Justice; Sir George - Matthew Sabatella; Old Lady & The Devil - Bill & Belle Reed; White House Blues - Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers; Tenting On The Old Camp Ground - Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band; Memory Coast - Matthew Sabatella; House Carpenter - Bob Dylan; The House Carpenter - Clarence Ashley; Ommie Wise - G. B. Grayson; John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man - The Carter Family; Casey Jones - Grateful Dead; Kassie Jones - Furry Lewis; Brilliancy Medley - Eck Robertson; Mountain Banjo - Rhiannon Giddons; Acadian One-Step - Joseph Falcon; Present Joys - Alabama Sacred Harp Singers; Judgement - Sister Mary Nelson; I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground - Bascom Lamar Lunsford; Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again - Bob Dylan; Way Down the Old Plank Road - Uncle Dave Macon; Spike Driver Blues - Mississippi John Hurt; Going Up The Country - Canned Heat; Fishing Blues - Henry Thomas; This Old Hammer - Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band
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Matthew Sabatella
Matthew Sabatella connects people with music that is woven into the fabric of the United States. As a singer, instrumentalist, recording artist, performer, speaker, and writer, he illuminates the connection between music and the story and people of the United States. He performs regularly, both as a solo artist and as the leader of the Rambling String Band. He also performs and records with singer/songwriter Karen Feldner.
In 2019, Matthew founded Ballad of America, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve and celebrate music from America’s diverse cultural history. They do this through a free music library with articles about songs and genres, videos, resources for teachers, sing-along videos, recordings, lead sheets, and live programs.
Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band have released three albums in the Ballad of America series, each with a different historical theme. Their flagship live program is the 90-minute multimedia stage show "A Celebration of America’s Music: From Plymouth Rock to Rock & Roll." Matthew sees the possibilities for future recordings, releases, and performances as nearly endless. He looks forward to a long career dedicated to performing, teaching, and carrying on the traditions of the music that he loves.