No Root, No Fruit
Episodes
30 episodes
Blue By Joni Mitchell With special guest, Susan Cattaneo
Released in 1971, Joni Mitchell's Blue set the bar for "confessional" songwriting. In a big year for popular music, from Masters Of Reality to Teaser and the Firecat, It showed what could be done with a mountain dulcimer, acoustic guitar, piano...
Anthology of American Folk Music wsg Jeff Place & Peter Stampfel
It wasn't a big seller when it was released in 1952, but the music on the Anthology of American Folk Music continues to inspire and influence roots music to this day. Join me for a chat with Jeff Place from Smithsonian Folkways Records and Pete...
Dave Carter with Tracy Grammer When I Go WSG Tracy Grammer
Their career together lasted a brief 5 years before Dave Carter's sudden death in 2002, but the impact of Dave's songs continue to influence and inspire to this day. When I Go was their first record together. Recorded in Tracy's kitchen/ living...
Library Of Congress Recordings With Stephen Winick & Si Kahn
This episode is not about a single recording. Instead, I bring in Library of Congress Folklife Specialist, Stephen Winick, and Songwriter and community organizer Si Kahn to talk about the historic recordings of the Library Of Congress dating ba...
Bonus Episode Louis Gossett Jr.
So this happened. I was doing research on the last episode about Richie Havens and his record Mixed Bag. I decided to take a chance and reach out to the great American actor Louis Gossett Jr to see if he would like to talk about his old friend ...
Richie Havens Mixed Bag WSGs John Platt & Cliff Eberhardt
Mixed Bag came out late in 1966 and introduced the world to the soulful interpreter of great songs, Richie Havens. His performance as the opening act at Woodstock cemented his fame, but he continued performing and recording for decades after. H...
John Hartford Aereo Plain with Art Menius
This record changed the landscape of bluegrass music. Sam Bush said there would be no New Grass without Aereo Plain and the Aereo Plain band.
Michael Smith On The Dutchman
This amazing song has traveled the world. Often mistaken for a traditional song (the highest compliment in my opinion) it was written by the late Chicago songwriter, Michael Peter Smith. We lost Michael in the Summer of 2020. I was able t...
Stan Rogers Between the Breaks Live With John Gorka & Garnet Rogers
Let's go behind the scenes of one of the best live recordings in folk, roots, & americana history. Great songs, amazing energy, and all from an artist who left this world way too soon. Stan's brother Garnet and John Gorka are my guests!
John Prine With special guests, Don White & Andrew Calhoun
Released in October of 1971, John Prine's debut, self-titled recored was a game changer. It really was the blueprint for a decades long career that continues to inspire song writers and camp fire singers to this day. I am joined by Andrew Calho...
Kate & Anna McGarrigle with Eve Goldberg, Joe Boyd, and Chaim Tannenbaum
When Kate & Anna McGarrigle's self-titled, debut record was released in January of 1976 it sounded like nothing else of the time. Inventive harmonies, Innovative arrangements, and fresh writing combined to create 35 minutes and 6 seconds of...
Mississippi John Hurt Today With Garnet Rogers
Mississippi John Hurt made his first recordings in 1928. He didn't record again until 1963. His guitar playing has influenced thousands. He recorded "Today" for Vanguard Records in 1966. Let's dive into what made this sweet, gentle and talented...
Townes Van Zandt Bonus Episode
These are excerpts from an interview I did with Townes Van Zandt on December 12, 1992 in Detroit, MI. It includes two live performances. This stuff has not been heard by anyone in over 30 years! I got the date of the interview wrong in the podc...
Townes Van Zandt Live at the Old Quarter with special guest Don Gonyea
Explore with me the almost mythical life of one of our greatest songwriters, Townes Van Zandt. His Live at the Old Quarter is the perfect introduction to a songwriter who, many believe, set the bar for all of the others. My guest is National Pu...
Skaggs & Rice With special guest, Kari Estrin
Two outstanding musicians converge in 1980 to record a tribute to the old-time duets of the 40s, 50s & 60s. A mandolin, a guitar, and 2 vocalists. That's it. The result is simplicity, goodness, and truth. Oh, and a record that is still insp...
Indigo Girls with Mary Gauthier
It was the second album and the debut major label release for this duo from Georgia, and it changed lives. Mary Gauthier is my guest as well as Laura Jones and Cara Valenti.
A Little Break
Season 1 is complete and season 2 will start on November 14. But first, a little business...
Pete Seeger & Arlo Guthrie Together In Concert WSG/ Joe Jencks
This iconic 2 record set bringing together 2 generations of folk singers turned a new audience on to the genre in 1975. With special guest, Joe Jencks.
Gillian Welch Revival WSG Danny Schmidt
Released in 1996, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, along with producer T-Bone Burnett, created a timeless album of original songs that continues to inspire and influence americana music to this day. My special guest is singer and songwri...
The Golden Ring 5 Days Singing, A Gathering Of Friends
Sometimes we make music for the sheer joy of community and song--that is the spirit of the Golden Ring. More of a concept than a group, the Golden Ring introduced so many folks to the sound of traditional music and the joy of making it with fri...
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-- Will the Circle Be Unbroken
This iconic triple album was recorded in 1971 and released in 1972. It's both a celebration of roots music, and a bridge between generations of players, singers and pickers. Doc Watson, Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Jimmy Martin...the list...
Doc Watson and Son
He is the Godfather of acoustic guitar players, an amazing singer, and a man who devoted his life to the preservation and presentation of American roots music. His 1965 Vanguard Records release, Doc Watson and Son, is a perfect snapshot of Doc ...
Tom Paxton Ramblin' Boy
This episode will focus on Tom Paxton's first major label recording, Ramblin' Boy. I will use some archive tape from an interview I did with Tom in 2007, and my special guest will be New York folk D.J, Wanda Fisher.
