Episode 8 of the Archives tells the story of “The Sloop John B,” and the song’s special place in Old Town School history. Listen through for interviews with folksinger and school co-founder Frank Hamilton, Ted Johnson (former guitar and yodeling instructor at the school), and a rare performance of the song by all three founders of the school.
Original recordings featured in this episode (in order of occurrence):
- “Glory of Love,” performed by Big Bill Broonzy at Circle Pines Center in Delton, MI, circa 1955
- Phone interviews with Frank Hamilton, 7/27/15 and 2/12/16
- Interview with Ted Johnson in the Resource Center of the Old Town School of Folk Music, 5/19/16
- “The Sloop John B” performed by Win Stracke, Frank Hamilton, Dawn Greening, Ray Tate and the Kossoy Sisters, from an Old Town School 25th anniversary concert hosted by Studs Terkel, 3/19/1982
References:
History of the Old Town School - https://www.oldtownschool.org/history/
