Selling Folk Music: An Illustrated History

Selling Folk Music: An Illustrated History provides a comprehensive view of the commercial sources that have shaped and sold folk music to a broad, shifting audience in the United States. The book showcases a wide range of folk music styles, from blues to country, and includes images from concert posters, album covers, and more.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 170 pages
Publication date: 23 August 2021
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi

Folk music, a rich tapestry of musical traditions, encompasses a diverse range of genres and styles that have evolved over centuries. From the blues and minstrel tunes of the past to the Victorian parlor songs, spirituals, gospel tunes, country and western songs, sea shanties, labor and political songs, calypso, pop folk, folk-rock, ethnic, bluegrass, and countless other manifestations, folk music has been an integral part of American music. Its significance lies in its ability to reflect the diverse experiences and cultures of the nation, making it a beloved and enduring genre.

Throughout the twentieth century, folk music has been packaged and sold to a broad and shifting audience in the United States. The commercial sources highlighted in Selling Folk Music provide a fascinating insight into how this genre has been marketed and promoted. Concert flyers, sheet music, book, songbook, magazine, and album covers, concert posters and flyers, and movie lobby cards and posters are just a few examples of the various promotional materials that have been used to showcase folk music to the public.

One notable example is the 1964 hootenanny craze, which saw a surge in the popularity of folk music. This phenomenon led to the creation of a wide range of commercial products, including candy bars, pinball machines, bath powder, paper dolls, Halloween costumes, and beach towels. These items were designed to capitalize on the growing interest in folk music and to appeal to a younger audience.

The almost five hundred images in Selling Folk Music present a unique way to catalog the history of folk music while also highlighting the transformative nature of the genre. The illustrations, taken from commercial products, offer a colorful and complex history of folk music, from its roots in the United States to its global influence. They showcase the diverse styles, instruments, and performers that have contributed to the evolution of folk music over the years, as well as the ways in which it has been adapted and reimagined by contemporary artists.

In conclusion, Selling Folk Music is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and promotion of folk music. Through its comprehensive collection of commercial sources and images, the book provides a new perspective on the genre's evolution and its impact on American culture. Whether you are a music enthusiast, a historian, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of folk music, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the rich and diverse history of this beloved genre.

Weight: 564g
Dimension: 215 x 280 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496837936