Celebrating America’s 235th Birthday

10 p.m. to Midnight Host: Steve Winters

This is our annual birthday bash for our dear and beloved nation. This year’s show includes a bit of patriotism and, in keeping with the party’s theme of celebrating America’s vernacular music, offers a host of selections from Smithsonian Folkways Records’ “Classics” series.

Culling some of the best and most significant material in the vast Smithsonian Folkways archives, Smithsonian Folkways began the “Classics” series in 2002 and it now numbers 19 albums based on specific themes. It’s a veritable front-seat to the on-going parade of America’s folk music since the advent of recording. This program barely touches on the breadth of the series. Check out this wonderful series of albums at: http://www.folkways.si.edu/find_recordings/ClassicSeries.aspx

The second hour starts with an in memoriam tribute to Benton Flippen, one of the last remaining creators of an old-time style called Round Peak music that is unique to Surry County, North Carolina. Flippen died Tuesday, June 28 at 90 years of age. He enjoyed a lengthy career as a fiddler and banjo player and was renowned in old-time circles for his musical prowess and truly unique fiddling. H he was awarded the North Carolina Heritage Award. In addition to a multitude of recordings by Flippen, there is also a documentary film about him.

  • Artist, "Title", Album, Label

  • 3 Fox Drive, “Star Spangled Banner”, Celebration Of Life, Skaggs Family Records

  • Pete Seeger, “America The Beautiful”, American Favorite Ballads/Vol. 1, Smithsonian Folkways

  • Eric von Schmidt, “My Country ’Tis Of Thee”, 2nd Right/3rd Row, Poppy

  • Steve Forbert & Jack Hardy et al, “This Land Is Your Land”, Fast Folk Musical Magazine, Vol.1/No. 4

  • Guy Van Duser, “Stars And Stripes Forever”, Finger-Style Guitar Solos, Rounder

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  • Woody Guthrie, “Pastures Of Plenty”, Classic Folk Music, Smithsonian Folkways

  • Roger Sprung & Doc Watson, “The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise”, Classic Bluegrass, Smithsonian

  • Folkways, , ,

  • Lead Belly, “Rock Island Line”, Classic Folk Music, Smithsonian Folkways

  • Guy Carawan, “We Shall Overcome”, Classic Protest Songs, Smithsonian Folkways

  • Phil Ochs, “Changes”, Classic Folk Music, Smithsonian Folkways

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  • Hazel Dickens, “The Rebel Girl”, Classic Bluegrass, Smithsonian Folkways

  • Big Bill Broonzy, “Black Brown And White”, Classic Protest Songs, Smithsonian Folkways

  • Janis Ian, “Baby I’ve Been Thinking (Society’s Child)”, Classic Protest Songs, Smithsonian Folkways

  • New World Singers, “Blowin’ In the Wind”, Classic Protest Songs, Smithsonian Folkways

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  • Green Valley Boys, “I’ll Be Somewhere”, Old Times/New Times, Rounder

  • Camp Creek Boys, “Lost Indian”, Old Times/New Times, Rounder

  • Smokey Valley Boys, “Benton’s Dream”, The Art Of Old-Time Mountain Music, Rounder

  • Benton Flippen, “Sugar Tree Stomp”, “Pole Cat Blues”, An Evening At WPAQ 1984, 5-String Productions

  • Smokey Valley Boys, “Kansas City Railroad Blues”, Old Times/New Times, Rounder

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  • John Jackson, “Railroad Bill”, Classic Appalachian Blues, Smithsonian Folkways

  • Martin Bogan & Armstrong, “Hoodoo Blues”, Classic Appalachian Blues, Smithsonian Folkways

  • Rev. Gary Davis, “Hesitation Blues”, Classic Appalachian Blues, Smithsonian Folkways

  • Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston, “John Henry”, Classic Railroad Songs, Smithsonian Folkways