Presented by Norm Cohen
In the 1950s, a new musical genre came to dominate the American pop music scene. Although it had its origins in a variety of musical traditions—ballads and folk songs, blues, spirituals, gospel—its most important role initially was providing music to further the causes of labor unions, political campaigns, and protest movements. As the years passed and the music gained a more prominent position in pop music, it shed the politics and protest roles and gradually came to be dominated by “singer/songwriters”— musicians who focused more on personal themes. This class will explore the rise of this “folk music revival,” its roots, characteristics, and impact on American music of the succeeding decades. We’ll listen to recordings by dozens of iconic musicians.

American Folk Music Revival

VISTAS MEMBER $50.00 USD NONMEMBER $75.00 USD