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Reading List
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- All Shook Up: How Rock 'N' Roll Changed America - Glenn C. Altshuler
- The Life and Music of Miss Peggy Lee, Peter Richmond
- The B-Side: The Death of Tin Pan Alley and the Rebirth of the Great American Song - Ben Yadoga
- Singing From the Floor: A History of British Folk Clubs - JP Bean
- Playing Changes: Jazz for the New Century - Nate Chinen
- Lets Do It: The Birth of Pop - Bob Stanley
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Resources
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Roots Music Podcasts
Author Archives: Richard Barry
“Little Old Paint Horse” – Benjamin Dakota Rogers (2023)
Benjamin Dakota Johnson has scored a Juno nomination in the Traditional Roots Album of the Year category for his 2023 release Paint Horse. He is a Southwestern Ontario native having grown up there on his family farm. His bio draws … Continue reading
Posted in Traditional
Tagged Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Juno Awards
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“Wondering Where the Lions Are” – Bruce Cockburn (1979)
If you like lists, this one was once named the 29th greatest Canadian song of all time by a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio program despite the fact that several of Cockburn’s subsequent singles reached a higher chart position. It was, as well, … Continue reading
Posted in Folk-Rock
Tagged Bruce Cockburn, CBC
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“Not a Lost Cause” – Good Lovelies (2023)
As noted yesterday, the Toronto-based folk/country harmony trio The Good Lovelies have been nominated for a Juno Award in the Contemporary Roots Album category for their 2023 release We Will Never Be the Same. The group consists of Caroline Brooks, … Continue reading
Posted in Folk-Country
Tagged The Good Lovelies, The Juno Awards
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Roots/Blues 2004 Juno Nominees
Congratulations to all. Contemporary roots album of the year Traditional roots album of the year Blues album of the year
Posted in Uncategorized
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“Pancho and Lefty” – Townes Van Zandt (1972)
If people know anything from the late singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt (1944-1997), it’s this song. Van Zandt first recorded “Pancho and Lefty” for his 1972 album The Late Great Townes Van Zandt. It’s been widely covered including in a duet by … Continue reading
Posted in Americana
Tagged Townes Van Zandt, Willie Nelson
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“That’s How I Got to Memphis” – Tom T. Hall (1969)
The final scene of the series finale of “The Newsroom” includes Jeff Daniels and a few others singing the Tom T. Hall classic “That’s How I Got to Memphis.” I was not familiar with it, which isn’t surprising because I … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Jeff Daniels, Newsroom, Tom T. Hall
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“A World Without Love”- Peter and Gordon (1964)
Is “A World Without Love” a roots/folk tune? I don’t know, but if some duo got up at a folk festival and sang it, no one would blink. Sixty years later it sounds pretty folkie to me, certainly folk-rock, or … Continue reading
Posted in Folk-Rock
Tagged :Please Lock Me Away, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Peter and Gordon
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“Potter’s Field” – Jack Hardy (1978)
The wonderfully serendipitous nature of the Internet never ceases to amaze. I was thinking of one of my favourite singer-songwriters John Gorka and clicked around to find a video of him singing a beautiful song called “Potter’s Field” by Jack Hardy (left). I … Continue reading
Posted in Folk music
Tagged Jack Hardy, John Gorka
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“We’ll Fight for Uncle Abe” – Bobby Horton (1987)
I’ve got a book on my shelf that I have rarely considered. It’s called “Singing Soldiers: A History of the Civil War in Song.” Selections and historical commentary are by Paul Glass. Musical arrangements for piano and guitar are by … Continue reading
Posted in Civil War music
Tagged Bobby Horton, Ken Burns
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Bones at Rest
A picture I took several years ago at an outdoor gig in Aurora, Ontario with the Borealis Big Band. This is the way trombones look when they’re not being used, which I call “Bones at Rest.”