Smithsonian Folkways Recordings | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/smithsonian-folkways-recordings/RSS feed for Smithsonian Folkways RecordingsenFri, 15 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000Before Meditation Apps, Listeners Were Hooked on Whale Songs, Rain Sounds and the 'Scream of the Southern Leopard Frog'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/before-meditation-apps-listeners-were-hooked-on-whale-songs-rain-sounds-and-the-scream-of-the-southern-leopard-frog-180987181/We've been listening to the great outdoors from the comfort of our homes since the invention of the portable tape recorder. Can nature sounds drown out the cacophony of modern life?Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/before-meditation-apps-listeners-were-hooked-on-whale-songs-rain-sounds-and-the-scream-of-the-southern-leopard-frog-180987181/The Only Recording of Woody Guthrie Singing the Protest Song 'Deportee' Has Been Released for the First Timehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-only-recording-of-woody-guthrie-singing-the-protest-song-deportee-has-been-released-for-the-first-time-180987084/The singer-songwriter recorded the audio on a reel-to-reel tape machine in his apartment in the 1950s. Now, the previously unheard song has been restored using A.I. audio technologyThu, 31 Jul 2025 17:31:35 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-only-recording-of-woody-guthrie-singing-the-protest-song-deportee-has-been-released-for-the-first-time-180987084/How the Charismatic King of Zydeco Introduced the Music of the Bayou to the Nationhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-the-charismatic-king-of-zydeco-introduced-the-music-of-the-bayou-to-the-nation-180986871/The lively songs and performances of Clifton Chenier, who would have turned 100 today, brought fans—including the Rolling Stones—to their feetWed, 25 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-the-charismatic-king-of-zydeco-introduced-the-music-of-the-bayou-to-the-nation-180986871/When Midcentury New York Spoke, This Sound Archivist Listened—and Recorded Every Wordhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/when-midcentury-new-york-spoke-this-sound-archivist-listened-and-recorded-every-word-180986817/Armed with a tape recorder and open ears, Tony Schwartz turned everyday noise into lasting art. Now, his recordings live on at Smithsonian Folkways, where they continue to inspire new ways of listening to, remembering and understanding the worldMon, 16 Jun 2025 18:00:39 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/when-midcentury-new-york-spoke-this-sound-archivist-listened-and-recorded-every-word-180986817/Meet the Man Who Recorded the Music of America's Front Porches and Backyard Partieshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-chris-strachwitz-captured-american-music-where-it-was-made-180983199/Chris Strachwitz, founder of Arhoolie Records, crisscrossed the United States photographing and recording musicians where they playedTue, 07 Nov 2023 13:22:50 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-chris-strachwitz-captured-american-music-where-it-was-made-180983199/Folk Icon Joan Baez Sings a Song of Herselfhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/folk-icon-joan-baez-sings-a-song-of-herself-180983010/After decades in the limelight, the American musician who spent a career exposing the world’s problems explores her own pastWed, 04 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/folk-icon-joan-baez-sings-a-song-of-herself-180983010/Celebrating 75 Years of Smithsonian Folkways Recordingshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/celebrating-75-years-of-smithsonian-folkways-recordings-sidedoor-podcast-180982383/The vast, eclectic public archive of American music—and other sounds—is featured on a new episode of the Sidedoor podcastFri, 16 Jun 2023 11:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/celebrating-75-years-of-smithsonian-folkways-recordings-sidedoor-podcast-180982383/Legendary Bluesman Robert Johnson Had Demons. So Did His Biographerhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/legendary-bluesman-robert-johnson-had-demons-so-did-his-biographer-180982027/The long-awaited “Biography of a Phantom” unravels some of the mystery and intrigueFri, 21 Apr 2023 15:12:20 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/legendary-bluesman-robert-johnson-had-demons-so-did-his-biographer-180982027/After Long Absence, the Folklife Festival Returns to the National Mallhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/after-long-absence-the-folklife-festival-returns-to-the-national-mall-180980249/The much-loved summer event, featuring the United Arab Emirates and Earth Optimism programs, opens with a concert hosted by Yo-Yo MaTue, 14 Jun 2022 17:25:55 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/after-long-absence-the-folklife-festival-returns-to-the-national-mall-180980249/Irma Thomas' Rendition of 'O Holy Night' Is a Marvel From Beginning to Endhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/irma-thomas-rendition-o-holy-night-is-marvel-beginning-end-180979118/Soulful Christmas music is an obsession for Bill Adler, so he interviewed the singer of one of his favorite songsMon, 06 Dec 2021 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/irma-thomas-rendition-o-holy-night-is-marvel-beginning-end-180979118/