|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZRITCHIE, Jean(b 8 Dec. '22, Viper KY) Trad. folksinger. One of 14 children, whose parents collected songs and were visited by English folklorist Cecil Sharp '17 and recorded '30s by John and Alan Lomax. She learned to play dulcimer at home, went to college, taught school, recorded '46 for Alan's Library of Congress Archive; gigged with the Weavers, Woody Guthrie, Oscar Brand; first LP Jean Ritchie Singing Traditional Songs Of Her Mountain Family '52 on 10]im[ Elektra. Appeared on TV, recorded for Tradition, Riverside, Prestige, other labels; began building dulcimers with her husband; was one of the original board of directors of the Newport Folk Festival. Among albums: The Appalachian Dulcimer '63 on Folkways, with Doc Watson Live At Folk City now on Smithsonian Folkways, A Time For Singing on WB, Clear Waters Remembered on Sire (reissued on Geordie). Published Singing Family Of The Cumberlands '55, Jean Ritchie's Dulcimer People '75. The Trio (see Emmylou Harris) covered her 'My Dear Companion' '87. Her sister Edna also recorded: Kentucky Songs And Ballads on Folk-Legacy. Jean continues to record on her own Greenhays label, distributed by Rounder; None But One issued on Sire '79 in UK is now on Greenhays, plus The Most Dulcimer, High Hills And Mountains, Kentucky Christmas Old And New with the family. |