Saladeen Alamin & Rosita Ragin-Alamin

Saladeen Alamin has been teaching Latin Dance at the Old Town School for over two decades. In this conversation with his wife, Rosita Ragin-Alamin, they talk about his early years as an acrobatic mambo dancer, his reflections on teaching at...

Joe Filisko & Harlan Terson

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...

Tisa Batchelder & Gregg Ostrom

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...

Charles Kim & Kim Bellware

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...

Linda Salmons: Folk Musician

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...

Ella Jenkins

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,...

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James Von Stein and Jason Von Stein

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.

Charlotte Bader

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.

Jane Stracke Bradbury

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...

Jon Langford & Sally Timms

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...

Martin’s Music

I interview my classmate about his past and future in music production.

Sarrah Ellen McDonald and Sarah Adams

Interview with Sarrah Ellen McDonald on how she began singing and playing music, her involvement in helping found Georgia Pick & Bow Traditional Appalachian Music School, and other aspects of music in Dahlonega. Interviewed by Sarah Adams on April 5,...

Matt Fisher: Saloon Singer

Meet Matt Fisher! From learning how to play guitar from family and friends, to being featured on MTV’s Made, Matt has lived an exciting life. Now, Matt finds the most fulfillment equipping his students with the tools necessary to play...

Josh Werner: Country/Bluegrass Musician

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...

Zelda Zerkel & Mareva Lindo

A conversation between Zelda Zerkel & Mareva Lindo. 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.

Mary Babcock & Lorena Velázquez-Hinojosa

A conversation between Mary Babcock & Lorena Velázquez-Hinojosa. This conversation was recorded at the school on June, 22nd, 2017. Go to www.oldtownschool.org/StoryCorps to hear selected excerpts from interviews collected as part of the StoryCorps-Old Town School partnership.

Judy Hauff & Louise Dimiceli-Mitran

Judy Hauff and Louise Dimiceli-Mitran worked at the Old Town School in the 1970s, at a time when everyone seemed to wear a lot of hats. They reunited to talk about some of the adventures they had together back then,...

Kathy Cowan & Colby Maddox

A conversation between Kathy Cowan and Colby Maddox, co-workers, teachers at the Old Town School. Kathy talks about a father, a classical singer who worked with Win Stracke, and traces her history from a receptionist job at WFMT to a...

Paul Tyler & Judy Higgins

A conversation between Paul Tyler and Judy Higgins. This conversation was recorded at the school on May 8th, 2017. Go to www.oldtownschool.org/StoryCorps to hear selected excerpts from interviews collected as part of the StoryCorps-Old Town School partnership.

Steve Doyle & Mike Drassler

In addition to teaching at the Old Town School for over 20 years, Steve Doyle is versatile guitarist who can be found gigging around town several times a week. In this conversation he talks with his coworker and one-time student...

Lance Greening & Rick Veras

A conversation between Lance Greening and Rick Veras. This conversation was recorded at the school on May 8th, 2017. Go to www.oldtownschool.org/StoryCorps to hear selected excerpts from interviews collected as part of the StoryCorps-Old Town School partnership.

Mama Memories

A mother is someone who loves you unconditionally from birth, the one who puts her kids before herself and the one who you can always count on above everyone else. In November of 2017 in Chicago, Illinois, 15 year old...