In a previous post, Ken described the release of a 1999 Folkways series in podcast form. The web site location for that series has changed, so I just wanted to provide the new link. The series includes interviews and sound recordings from many of those involved in creating, finding and/or preserving what we know as American folk music.

In 1999 Smithsonian Folkways and CKUA radio collaborated on a series of twenty four programs highlighting the recordings in the Folkways Collection. The series is now available both as a podcast and as individual downloads from the Smithsonian Folkways web site.

Founded in 1948 by Mose Asch and Marian Distler, Folkways Records released 2168 albums which include traditional music, as well as ethnic and contemporary music from around the world.Folkways was tremendously influential in the folk revival, releasing recordings by Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Lead Belly and many others including Harry Smith’s Anthology of American Folk Music. When Asch died in 1987 Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage acquired the collection and makes it available today.

This seems to be the month of digital distribution deals. Smithsonian Folkways has a new agreement with The Orchard for digital distribution and marketing of the Folkways collection.