Since 1960, Chris Strachwitz travelled around the U.S. recording and filming native music styles from Delta Blues, Cajun, Zydeco to Nortena and more and then releasing them as records. He also collected and curated a huge amount of folk music from the 20s, 30s and 40s on 78s and made that available too.
His efforts in cataloging some of the founding DNA of Rock N Roll are monumental at the very least. A large selection of his work is available through Smithsonian Folkways and available at his store in El Cerrito CA.
Make sure to see the documentary on Chris and Arhoolie for a truly wonderful experience. Watching Chris listen to performance music is to see a human being transcendent.
Notable Recordings Made By Arhoolie Include:
Big Mama The Queen At Monterey by Big Mama Thornton
Come On Baby by Lightning Hopkins
Thinking Of What They Did To Me by Big Joe Williams
Takin’ My Time by Charlie Musselwhite
Arhoolie Foundation
10341 San Pablo Ave
El Cerrito, CA 94530
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