I am originally from New York City, though Canada has been my home since 1969. But that wasn’t my first time in Canada. In 1963, through a quirk, I got a ride to Toronto and attended the Mariposa folk festival. I fell in love with Canada on

Jazz (Program #18)

May 16th, 2018 58m 13s

This time, I thought we’d wander about the collection listening to a teeny bit of the Jazz that my father recorded. Given everything he did, it is easy to forget his keen interest in jazz and of his important recordings, such as for Jazz at the

Work Songs (Program #16)

May 16th, 2018 58m

Harold Courlander is an important figure in the history of Folkways. Well known in some circles for winning the case against Alex Haley, whose novel Roots plagiarized from Courlander’s novel The African, I think of Courlander as the early guidi

Love (Program #25)

Nov 19th, 2010 58m

In this program, the theme is simple: love. Love songs, courting songs, fertility songs, bridal and wedding songs. Start in North Africa with the Berbers who live in Algeria and move around the world, geographically and emotionally. ** Discreti

Struggle and Protest (Program #24)

Nov 9th, 2010 57m 40s

Moses Asch was a steadfast and passionate advocate for underdogs who spoke up for themselves. He cared deeply about unions, civil rights, fights for freedom, and fights against oppression. On this show, his son Michael Asch explores the catalog

Piano (Program #23)

Oct 15th, 2010 57m 19s

On this show I feature piano recordings on Folkways Records. Piano is my favourite instrument, and there is no doubt that my father’s three record companies, Asch, Disc and then Folkways, recorded some of the very best jazz and blues pianists o

Rainbow (Program #22)

May 5th, 2010 57m 59s

What is a rainbow? Why are we so fascinated by them? Why do we associate things to them: hope, beginnings, security, riches, and so on? Rainbows have been a constant in western culture and song. This program asks “what means a rainbow”? Music

Children's Music (Program #21)

Apr 5th, 2010 57m 12s

In this program, we focus on children’s music. My father, Moe Asch, produced a huge collection of children’s recordings, but, as I hope you’ll hear, they were unique in many ways. We’ll play music from around the world, music for and from child

Pete Did That? Program #20)

Mar 15th, 2010 57m 46s

In this program we explore the various musical sides of Pete Seeger. We will begin with Pete at Carnegie Hall getting everyone to sing together. It reminds me of those Christmas concerts of my youth, singing at the top of my voice, trying to ke

The Letter J (Program #17)

Dec 28th, 2009 58m 2s

Shortly before he died in 1986, my father was interviewed I think by the Today Show on NBC. At that time, he justified his policy of never withdrawing a record title from the complete two thousand plus collection by saying: “would you take the

Time (Program #15)

Nov 24th, 2009 56m 32s

This show will mine the Folkways catalogue for songs about clocks and time, at least Western conceptions of time. We start with a little bluegrass reflection on clocks and then move onto all sorts of songs with references to time or time keepin

Talking About the Blues (Program #14)

Nov 13th, 2009 58m 8s

This show is called “talking about and singing the blues.” The idea comes from the Folkways album “This is the Blues.” It features Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry, and Brownie McGhee. The album was built around a radio show produced by the great

Sacco and Vanzetti(Program #13)

Nov 2nd, 2009 57m 46s

Nicola Sacco and Bartolmeo Vanzetti, Italian anarchists, were executed unjustly in 1927 for armed robbery and murder of two pay-clerks in Massachusetts. The case caused quite a stir at the time as for many the conviction was not for murder, but

Days of the Week (Program #12)

Oct 13th, 2009 56m 55s

It was kind of a gloomy day around Michael Asch’s home when his researcher Rob Wiznura sent him an idea for a show that presented the days of the week in song. It was a blue day, so he thought Blue Monday, because it goes through the days of th

Black and White (Program #11)

Sep 30th, 2009 58m 7s

This show is built around the song “The Ink is Black” or “Black and White” by David Arkin, Alan Arkin’s father and Earl Robinson, who for a time was the music teacher at Michael’s school in New York City. Written on the occasion of the 1954 de-

Tony Schwartz (Program #10)

Sep 15th, 2009 58m 7s

This show is about the world of sound captured by Tony Schwartz and produced on Folkways Records. While not a household name, Schwartz is a legendary figure in the advertising business. There is another side to Tony Schwartz. It is found in his

Going to the Dogs (Program #9)

Aug 31st, 2009 58m 6s

The theme of this show is about Smithsonian Folkways material inspired by dogs, so Michael Asch has called the show “Going to the Dogs.” The idea for the show came from Rob Wiznura, researcher on this radio series, and a guy who likes dogs, an

Broadsides (Program #8)

Aug 12th, 2009 58m

This episode of Smithsonian Folkways: Sounds to Grow On focuses on topical songs, mostly from a small-distribution, widely influential magazine from the 1960s and 70s and 80s called Broadside Magazine. In 1962, the first issue cost 35 cents and

Songs of Animals (Program #7)

Jul 17th, 2009 58m 7s

In this show we jump into the world of animal sounds and songs about animals. Of course there are many songs about animals. But Michael’s father Moe Asch also released a number of recordings of animal sounds, some straightforward recordings and

Bluegrass (Program #6)

Jun 10th, 2009 58m 7s

This hour features bluegrass music on Folkways Records. Bluegrass is a style developed mostly in Appalachia that combines the music of Scots-Irish, African-American, jazz and blues. Michael presents a personal journey, choosing from those perfo

The Unfortunate Rake (Program #5)

May 13th, 2009 58m 1s

In this hour Michael traces the history of a folksong, probably most familiar to you as "The Streets of Laredo" but also reflected in the song "St James Infirmary." In 1960, Folkways released an album put together by folklorist Kenneth Goldstei

The Harlem Renaissance (Program #4)

May 6th, 2009 57m 37s

A remarkable thing about Folkways is the number of significant movements in the 20th century with which it was in tune. One such movement is the African-American poetry scene, starting with the Harlem Renaissance that began in the 1920s. The Ha

Introduction (Program #1)

Apr 14th, 2009 57m 49s

Smithsonian Folkways: Sounds to Grow On is a 26-part series featuring the original recordings of Folkways records. Host Michael Asch is the only child of Moses and Frances Asch. He was a professor of Anthropology at the University of Alberta in

My Favourite Things (Program #2)

Apr 7th, 2009 57m 48s

This episode is dedicated to music on Folkways that has a special place for Michael Asch. It includes some of his favourites and some of his father's favourites. Some of these songs are from Moe's childhood and some are from Michael's early adu

The Midnight Special (Program #3)

Apr 7th, 2009 57m 38s

In program three the focus is on the blues, but from a particular personal angle. Listeners from Chicago may well recognize the title "The Midnight Special," as being used on a radio show that has been broadcast on WFMT since 1953 and is now br

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