Smithsonian Folkways Blues Roots-Chicago- The 1930s

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution, dedicated to supporting cultural diversity and increased understanding among peoples through the documentation, preservation, and dissemination of sound. Folkways Records believe that musical and cultural diversity contributes to the vitality and quality of life throughout the world. Through the dissemination of audio recordings and educational materials, Folkways Records seek to strengthen people's engagement with their own cultural heritage and to enhance their awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage of others. Our mission is the legacy of Moses Asch, who founded Folkways Records in 1948 to document "people's music," spoken word instruction, and sounds from around the world. The Smithsonian acquired Folkways from the Asch estate in 1987, and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has continued the Folkways commitment to cultural diversity, education, increased understanding, and lively engagement with the world of sound. As the Depression's early days brought Southern musicians to Northern cities, the Chicago blues scene absorbed and incorporated these new arrivals. Ensembles grew, the blues became more popular, and individual musicians' styles combined to form a sound that reflected musicians' familiarity with each other and the creativity each brought to the session.

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• Nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution
• Dedicated to supporting cultural diversity and increased understanding among peoples through the documentation, preservation, and dissemination of sound
• Believes that musical and cultural diversity contributes to the vitality and quality of life throughout the world
• Seeks to strengthen people's engagement with their own cultural heritage and to enhance their awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage of others
• Continues the Folkways commitment to cultural diversity, education, increased understanding, and lively engagement with the world of sound
• Documents "people's music," spoken word instruction, and sounds from around the world
• Reflects musicians' familiarity with each other and the creativity each brought to the session