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From 1 epsHost
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Recent episodes
Talkin' Blues // Cameron Knowler
Mar 17, 2026
38m 04s
TAKEOVER // Finding Lucinda: Episode 1
Dec 2, 2025
Unknown duration
Earl Scruggs // King of the Five String
Oct 23, 2025
Unknown duration
Talkin' Blues // Buffalo Nichols
May 31, 2025
Unknown duration
BONUS // Moses Asch & Folkways Records
Dec 30, 2024
Unknown duration
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/17/26 |  Talkin' Blues // Cameron Knowler✨ | bluesguitar styles+3 | Cameron Knowler | CRKFretboard Journal+2 | — | Cameron Knowlerguitar+5 | — | 38m 04s | |
| 12/2/25 |  TAKEOVER // Finding Lucinda: Episode 1 | Today on the program, we're letting our friends at The Bluegrass Situation takeover our feed with a brand new series called "Finding Lucinda." Episode One: Introducing Finding Lucinda As we join the story, Ismay has been living and working on their family ranch for almost a decade – and they're looking for change. For several years the independent singer-songwriter has been playing in a Lucinda Williams tribute band and writing their own music. An opportunity to record an album sparks a new and different idea: to instead embark on a road trip to uncover the early days of Lucinda's music career and, hopefully, find a way forward creatively. However, they are plagued by self doubt about whether pursuing music can still be worthwhile for them. But in spite of this uncertainty, Ismay dives into research to see where a journey across the country – and further into the life and music of Lucinda – could lead. Links: Finding Lucinda on The Bluegrass Situation Facebook Instagram X Website Credits: Distributed by The Bluegrass Situation Produced and mixed by Avery Hellman for Neanderthal Records LLC Music by ISMAY and The Lake Charlatans Artwork by Avery Hellman Guests: Mary Gauthier, Wolf Stephenson, John Grimaudo, Charlie Sexton Special thanks to: Joel Fendelman, Liz McBee, Rose Bush, Mick Hellman, Chuck Prophet, Jonathan McHugh, Jacqueline Sabec, Lucinda Williams & Tom Overby About Finding Lucinda: Finding Lucinda follows a young singer-songwriter on a road trip of self discovery to trace the roots of their musical hero Lucinda Williams. Amidst self-doubt and uncertainty, ISMAY sets out from the family ranch in Northern California and travels to Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee. There ISMAY meets Lucinda's early collaborators, digs through the archives to uncover hidden treasures, and visits the studios and venues where Lucinda got her start. Interviews include Charlie Sexton, Buddy Miller, and Mary Gauthier. Finding Lucinda is ultimately a story about not knowing whether you have what it takes to be the artist you want to be, and looking for answers on how to move forward anyways. It's about finding a small way to be more like your hero. Listen on The Bluegrass Situation or where you get your shows and look out for the Finding Lucinda film coming Fall 2025. | — | ||||||
| 10/23/25 |  Earl Scruggs // King of the Five String | Today on the program, we're sharing our most robust and entertaining episode since beginning five years ago, honoring the king of the five string banjo, Earl Scruggs. Featuring more than 25 different voices all touched by Earl, this part narrative, part field recording feature will give you a glimpse into the life of Earl Scruggs and his story that is completely unique, informed by those who knew him and those who are holding his legacy high today. Immerse yourself in the Earl Scruggs Music Festival, and learn why it was chosen as the 2025 International Bluegrass Music Association Event of the Year. Special thanks to the Earl Scruggs Center and the Earl Scruggs Festival for having me this year! Have an instrument to donate? ReString Appalachia Support Educational Programming: Join the Patreon Community Send a one-time donation on Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher: Instagram | TikTok Credits: Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, editing, writing recording and distribution Jamie Tews - Research, Writing Assistance | — | ||||||
| 5/31/25 |  Talkin' Blues // Buffalo Nichols | Today, I'm sharing a conversation I had with one of today's most eclectic roots musicians, Buffalo Nichols. Since his earliest infatuations with guitar, Carl, who goes by the name Buffalo Nichols has asked himself the same question: How can I bring the blues of the past into the future? A student of African traditions and its roots in the blues, as well as the black influence on "white" music in country, bluegrass, old time and folk, the depth and airy nature of his voice lends itself to all these traditions, as represented in his music. We talked about his trajectory as a musician early on, being picked up by labels, and now being independent, the misinformed music history narrative that's been pushed on all of us since the 1920's, and many things in between. Enjoy! Tour Listen Instagram Patreon ___ Support Educational Programming: Tax-Exempt Donations Join our Patreon Community One-time donation via Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher Credits: Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, editing, recording and distribution | — | ||||||
| 12/30/24 |  BONUS // Moses Asch & Folkways Records | A few years back, we had the pleasure of partnering with Smithsonian Folkways for a special two part series on Folkways Records founder Moses Asch, who was born 99 years ago earlier this month. To honor his legacy, we combined these two pieces and re-releasing them today. We'll traverse Moe's early career, bankruptcy, and the tumultuous yet tantalizing 40 years of iconic recordings with pioneering and lesser known artists of Folkways Records. You'll find out how what Moe accomplished became so woven with the cultural footprint of American Music as we know it today. Now… here's the story of Moses Asch. __ Support Educational Programming: Tax-Exempt Donations Join the Patreon Community One-time donations: Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher on Instagram Credits: Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, writing, editing, distribution Collaboration Credits: Smithsonian Folkways Full Moses Asch interview with Arhoolie Records' founder Chris Strachwitz Interviewees: Richard Carlin - Worlds of Sound: The Story of Smithsonian Folkways - Book Michael Asch - Dom Flemons - Black Cowboys from Smithsonian Folkways Websites: Smithsonian | SF2 | NY Times | Redalyc | Arhoolie | Jstor.com | NPR | Routledge | AllPurposeGuru | NY TIMES 2 | University of Alberta | Haaretz | Folkworks Videos:FAI Folkways: World of Sound Documentary Books: Making people's music : Moe Asch and Folkways records - Peter D Goldsmith | — | ||||||
| 11/17/24 |  WNC Roots Music History LIVE! | Back in July of 2024, I had the pleasure of bringing the first LIVE American Songcatcher podcast experience to the historic Graham County Courthouse in Robbinsville, NC. This time, I can't edit out all of my stumbles. The multimedia presentation traverses Western North Carolina music history starting with the native Cherokee, first settlers and immigration, African American influence on Appalachian music, and short stories of obscure and well known musicians from North Carolina. Attendees had visuals of photos and videos that you'll have to experience at the next live episode. The very end features a short concert with history behind a few songs that come from North Carolina. This presentation was made possible by Graham County Travel & Tourism __ Support Educational Programming: Tax-Exempt Donations Join the Patreon Community One-time donations: Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher on Instagram Credits: Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, editing, recording and distribution | — | ||||||
| 9/22/24 |  S3:E7 // Frankie & Johnny | Today on the program, we're proud to present the story behind the most widely recorded murder ballad in American history, the true St. Louis story of "Frankie and Johnny." Johnny's real name was Albert, and though the phrase "He was doin' her wrong" has been the constant refrain, the depiction of Frankie Baker has always been one of a vengeful murderess - rather than murder in self defense - and she fought nearly her entire life to change that narrative. For over 100 years, the song has continued to be recorded with many false depictions, and in this story, you'll hear how it all unfolded and became such a hallmark murder ballad in American music history. __ Support Educational Programming: Tax-Exempt Donations Join the Patreon Community One-time donations: Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher on Instagram Credits: Ryan Eastridge - Research, Writing Teddy Chipouras - Editing Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, editing, recording and distribution References: "A Brief History of St. Louis." City of St. Louis. Cellania, Miss. "The Story Behind 'Frankie and Johnny.'" Mental Floss. May 3, 2016. Demain, Bill. "Ten Days in a Madhouse: The Woman Who Got Herself Committed." Mental Floss. May 2, 2011. Edwards, Bill. "Rags and Pieces by Scott Joplin, 1895-1905." June 6, 2009. "'Frankie' of Famed Song Dies at 75." Stockton Evening and Sunday Record. January 10, 1952. "Frankie and Johnny (1966)." IMDB. "Frankie and Johnny (1991)." IMDB. Huston, John. Frankie and Johnny. 1930. John, Finn J. D. "'Johnny's' Frankie lived in P-town, hiding from song." Offbeat Oregon History website. April 1, 2021. Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries & University Museums. "Frankie and Johnny, or, You'll Miss Me in the Days to Come." The Lester S. Levy Sheet Music Collection. Kloppe, Adam. "Tom Turpin's Rosebud Café." Here's History Podcast. October 16, 2023. Knox, Martha. "Words on Woodcuts" blog. March 26, 2016. Lomax, John A., Lomax, Alan. American Ballads and Folk Songs. The Macmillan Company, New York. 1934. pgs. 103-110. Morgan, Stacey. Frankie and Johnny: Race, Gender, and the Works of African American Folklore in the 1930s. University of Texas Press. 2017. pg. 20. "Murder Ballads (A Visit to a Bad Neighborhood part 2)." Riverside Blues Society. New York Public Library for The Performing Arts, Archives and Manuscripts. "Jack Kirkland papers, 1928-1969." Oswald, Charles J.; Kurres, Richard. "It's Frankie and Albert Instead of Frankie and Johnny." Lakeland Ledger. May 29, 1975. Polenberg, Richard. Hear My Sad Story: The True Tales that Inspired Stagolee, John Henry, and Other Traditional American Folk Songs. Cornell University Press. 2015. Richardson, Ethel Park; edited and arranged by Sigmund Spaeth. American Mountain Songs. Greenberg Publishing, New York. 1927. pgs. 38, 107. Sandberg, Carl. The American Songbag. Harcourt Brace & Company. 1927. pgs. 73-75. Slade, Paul. "It's a Frame-Up: Frankie & Johnny." Slade, Paul. Unprepared to Die: America's Greatest Murder Ballads and the Stories that Inspired Them. Soundcheck Books LLP, London. 2015. "Soundtrack: 'Frankie & Johnny.'" Our St. Louis History. April 20, 2018. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 24, 1995. pg. 39. | — | ||||||
| 8/18/24 |  Talkin' Blues // John McCutcheon | Today, I'm sharing a conversation I had with Grammy-nominated folk singer, storyteller, humanitarian, author and multi-virtuoso-instrumentalist John McCutcheon. During his five-decade career, John has released 44 albums spanning an eclectic catalog of ballads, historical songs, children's songs, love songs, topical satire, fiddle and hammer dulcimer instrumentals, and even symphonic works. He is regarded as a master of the hammered dulcimer, and is also proficient on many other instruments including guitar, banjo, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, fiddle, and jaw harp, and has received six Grammy Award nominations for his children's songs. I got to know a bit of John's story early on, his evolution as a preservationist and what its been like to be an ambassador for as long as he has, what he's up to these days, and of course some geeking out on music history. Enjoy! More on John: Official Website Facebook Patreon ___ Support Educational Programming: Tax-Exempt Donations Join the Patreon Community One-time donation via Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher on Instagram Credits: Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, editing, recording and distribution | — | ||||||
| 7/24/24 |  S3:E6 // Sam Cooke | Today on the program, we present the story behind the Father of Soul, Sam Cooke. Growing up in the church, Sam knew he wanted to be a singer by the time he was five years old. There was a magnetic and infectious quality to this young Gospel singer, and he knew he was destined for bigger things than singing sacred music. The risk he took in becoming a pop singer was massive, but it produced the first records of what is now known as Soul music. Sam also was a pioneer when it came to being savvy about the music business, owning his own publishing company, negotiating contracts, and creating a container to nurture up and coming soul singers. At the height of the civil rights movement, and the pinnacle of his career, Sam's life was cut short. Here is his story. __ Support Educational Programming: Tax-Exempt Donations Join the Patreon Community One-time donations: Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher on Instagram Credits: Jonah Nordeen - Research, Writing Teddy Chipouras - Editing Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, Editing, Recording and Distribution References: Campbell, L. E. (2013, February 16). Jesus Gave Me Water. Archive. Today. DeCurtis, A., Henke, J., & George-Warren, H. (Eds.). (1992). The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll: The definitive history of the most important artists and their music (3rd ed). Random House. Guralnick, P. (2005). Dream boogie: The triumph of Sam Cooke (1st ed). Little, Brown. James, E., & Ritz, D. (2003). Rage to survive: The Etta James story (2. ed). Da Capo. Ritz, D. (2022). Sam Cooke. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Robinson, L. (1964, December 31). Tragedy-Filled Life of Singer Sam Cooke. Jet, XXVII(13), 56–65. Runtagh, J. (2021, January 21). Why Mystery Still Shrouds Singer Sam Cooke's Shooting Death Nearly 60 Years Later. People. Documentaries: Two Killings of Sam Cooke - Netflix Who Murdered Soul? The Sam Cooke Story. (2018, July 15). YouTube. Wharton, M. (Director). (1996). Legend [Documentary]. Amazon Prime. | — | ||||||
| 6/4/24 |  S3:E5 // Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys | Today on the program, we're proud to present the story behind the King of Western Swing, Bob Wills. One of the most influential and iconic bandleaders and musicians of the 1930's-1950's, Bob came from a humble life of a poor sharecropping family, and was deeply influenced by old time and breakdown fiddle through his Texas state champion family of fiddlers in his father and uncle. Bob also loved all the turn of the century and 1920's black music, and this confluence of cultures would help him create the craze that became Western swing, and the details of his journey to get there will surprise you. Story by Brent Davis and Nicholas Edward Williams __ Support Educational Programming: Tax-Exempt Donations Join the Patreon Community One-time donations: Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher on Instagram Story Credits: Brent Davis - Research, Writing Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, writing editing, recording and distribution Homecoming: Reflections on Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, 1915-1973, Charles R. Townsend. Country Music Hall of Fame Authentic Texas OW Mayo The Life and Times of Bob Wills Country Music, an Illustrated History, Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns. Country Music, a PBS documentary by Florentine Films, Ken Burns, director; Dayton Duncan, writer. OK History Life and Times of Bob Wills (TNN) Texas Monthly Birthplace of Western Swing The Country Music Pop-Up Book, by the staff of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Hag: The Life, Times, and Music of Merle Haggard, Marc Elliot. | — | ||||||
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| 4/20/24 |  Talkin' Blues // Charlie Hunter | Today, I'm sharing a conversation I had with GRAMMY-NOMINATED American guitarist, composer, producer and bandleader Charlie Hunter. He first came on to the scene in the early 1990s, and simultaneously plays bass lines, chords, and melodies, on custom seven and eight-string guitars, as featured in trios and quintet projects, as well as Garage-A-Trois. Notably, Charlie is also a student of ragtime guitar, using the true two finger technique pioneered by Arthur Blind Blake and very different from what he's known for. We talked about Charlie's upbringing in a musical family, finding his own path, the groove and authenticity, all things Blind Blake, and as usual, we geeked out on some music history. Enjoy! Charlie's Links: Official Website Instagram ___ Support Educational Programming: Tax-Exempt Donations Join the Patreon Community One-time donations: Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher on Instagram Credits: Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, editing, recording and distribution | — | ||||||
| 12/21/23 |  S3:E1 // John Hartford | Today on our program, we're delighted to release the first episode of Season 3, which will consist entirely of single stories. In this story, we dive into the life of renowned songwriter, riverboat pilot, folklorist, song collector, music historian, accomplished fiddler and banjoist, clog & shuffle dancer, storyteller and consummate entertainer John Hartford. One of the most brilliant yet lesser-known musicians of the last century, John was the main player in redefining Bluegrass and American roots music for future generations, the unofficial father of "newgrass", who had a life that was anything but ordinary. Support Educational Programming: Join the Patreon Community Send a one-time donation on Venmo or PayPal Follow American Songcatcher: Instagram | TikTok Credits: Ryan Eastridge - Research, Writing Nicholas Edward Williams - Production, research, writing, editing, recording and distribution References: Rolling Stone | Art Menius | Fretboard Journal | JohnCowan.com | Mike Bub Interview | AllMusic.com | No Depression | The Bluegrass Situation | Official Website | — | ||||||
| 7/28/20 |  S1:E1 // If She Heard My Guineas Clink | Season 1, Episode 1 // If She Heard My Guineas Clink Featured in this Episode: Traditional - "Peggy O" (:28) Jimmie Rodgers - "Waiting For a Train" (8:01) Elizabeth Cotten - "Shake Sugaree" (15:23) Dave Van Ronk - "Green, Green Rocky Road" (25:40) Gillian Welch - "Everything is Free" (35:26) Teaser: A traditional Scottish song survives over 300 years, traveling thousands of miles before filtering through the Appalachian Mountains and becoming a folk "pass along" tune. "The Singing Brakeman" comes alive after witnessing the yodeling of Swiss emissaries, creating the original country music sound. A woman in her 60's falls into a household worker position for the Seeger Family, and they discover a talent left behind 30 years ago that would inspire generations of guitar players. A man who was bigger in person than the myths that followed him, personifying emotion through old songs. And a living legend, who punctures holes in hearts with her incomparable songwriting, transformed by The Stanley Brothers. Interested in supporting this independent program? Join the Patreon community, or send a one-time donation through Venmo or PayPal Follow: Facebook | Instagram "Shine A Light": GemsOnVHS Source Credits: #1: WhiteGum | Weeping Willow Guitar | The Jovial Crew #2: Bluegrass Today | Official Website #3: Folkways | Rainbow Quest #4: The Vinyl District | Folkways | Elijah Wald | Guitar Workshop #5: The Guardian | The New Yorker | Rolling Stone | — | ||||||
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Chart Positions
2 placements across 2 markets.
Chart Positions
2 placements across 2 markets.