Appalachian Folk
tagStarted 19th centuryPeak 1927–1965Last big hit still activeFrom Appalachia, United States
Located in 1 route
Appalachian folk is singer-centered mountain music built from ballads, hymns, old songs, and simple string accompaniment.
History
The style grew from the mixed cultural history of Appalachia and was later shaped by collecting, early country recording, and the folk revival.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair — Jean RitchieSpotifyYouTube
- Single Girl, Married Girl — The Carter FamilySpotifyYouTube
- Shady Grove — Doc WatsonSpotifyYouTube
- Little Birdie — Roscoe HolcombSpotifyYouTube
- High on a Mountain — Ola Belle ReedSpotifyYouTube
- West Virginia, My Home — Hazel DickensSpotifyYouTube
Sources
- Library of Congress
- Smithsonian Folkways
- NPS
- Britannica. citeturn16search0turn8search6turn7search1