Search Interviews

Folklorist Ann Hoog (45) interviews longtime colleague and American Folklife Center volunteer, Howard Kramer (77) about his early life, and his 16 years volunteering at the Center.

A conversation between Joe Filisko, blues harmonica player and teacher, and Harlan Terson, touring and teaching bass player. Harlan remarks on his luck to experience the zenith of the blues era and working with several Chicago Blues Legends. Joe remembers...

In January of 2023 in New Hope, PA, Lilly Stark (16) interviewed her father Richard Stark (63) about experiences that changed his life for the better. Richard has lived all over the country and had many different careers that gave...

Agnes Babich is interviewed by her grandson John Babich about growing up in an immigrant neighborhood in New York City, her family, work and travels.

A conversation between partners and musical collaborators Gregg Ostrom and Tisa Batchelder, who met many years ago at the Old Town School, where they work. They share memories of their first encounters with the school, of their long courtship, and...

Jason Von Stein (36) talks and plays music with his father James E. Von Stein (66), a songwriter whose emphysema has stopped him from playing himself. The two reminisce and tell stories while playing.

Grace Trujillo (29) speaks with her father Valentino Trujillo (57) about his immigration experience, their music and art, and the economy.

A conversation between Charles Kim, Guitar and Songwriting teacher at Old Town School since 1999 and Kim Bellware, friend and student. Kim and Charles discuss the effect of YouTube on classes at Old Town School, and how people choose to...

I had an interview with Labyrinth. We discussed his experience of learning guitar when he was a child and what mindset and rewards he gained from learning. After the interview, I was deeply touched by his attitude towards life.

One Small Step partners Jeff Blumenthal (62) and Sean Ozée (43) talk about their Jewish community in Oklahoma City, their views on various social issues in Oklahoma, and the "God moments" that have marked their lives.

Nicholas Porath (30) interviews his grandmother Ruth Ann Ryan (76) about their family genealogy and history.

Mary Alexander [no age given] talks with her daughter, Jessie East (45), about her passion for music and how love of family and home has inspired her first album.

Shayne Duggan [no age given] discusses the life and musical interests of Maxwell "Max" Macpherson (76).

Asa Kramer-Dickie (23) continues talking with his grandmother, Atossa Kramer (80), about her life and work in eastern Kentucky and western North Carolina.

Steve Desroches (48) talks to his husband, singer songwriter Peter Donnelly (63) about his process of writing a song. Donnelly sings a few of his more recent works.

Spouses, Kari Goetz (46) and Crawford Long (47), share a conversation about how they first met as teenagers, about being pen-pals, and about meeting again twenty years later and eventually getting married.

Meet Linda Salmons! Linda is the founder of “Picking On The Porch” at the Tuckerton Seaport. In this interview, she shares the best stories from her life as a folk musician. From meeting Taylor Swift to trading guitar lessons for...

Jon Langford and Sally Timms--of The Mekons and countless other projects--have been part of the Old Town School community in a myriad of ways since the 1990s. Just a few months after Langford was honored as a “Music Legend” by...

Karen Luedke (66) interviews her husband, Kurt Luedke (68), along with their daughter, Jenny Officer (32), about Kurt's time as a camp counselor and high school teacher.

We talked about his career in being a guitarist, and some of his favorite parts.

A conversation between Jane Stracke Bradbury and Old Town School documentarian Mareva Lindo. Jane has been present at every incarnation of the school, even before it began. Daughter of Old Town School co-founder Win Stracke, she recalls memories of her...

Born in St. Louis on August 6th, 1924, and raised on Chicago's South side, Ella Jenkins was the first person in line on the opening night of the Old Town School of Folk Music, December 1st, 1957. At the time,...

A conversation with Charlotte Bader. This conversation was recorded at the school on July 25th, 2017. Go to www.oldtownschool.org/StoryCorps to hear selected excerpts from interviews collected as part of the StoryCorps-Old Town School partnership.

Jack Perry (51) shares a conversation with his father, Whit Perry (80), about a trip around the world that Whit took when he was younger and about how that trip changed him.

Meet Josh Werner! From finding a guitar is his parent’s closet, to receiving his grandmother’s blessing to pursue music professionally, Josh has come a long way. He is now one of the most talented and respected country musicians in South...