Show Me Folk

Donald Cox, an Elder Statesman of Kansas City Jazz, recently died unexpectedly. In 2002, Mr. Cox served as a master artist in the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, where he mentored young pianist Oscar Williams, III….

We are sad to learn that Mr. Clarence Schaffner passed away this week (October 2015). Among his many occupations, Mr. Schaffner was a cowboy poet. In the 1990s, he often performed and toured with “Missouri…

We are saddened to learn that master tap dancer and founder of the St. Louis Tap Festival, Professor Robert L. Reed, has died. Among other accomplishments, he was also a previous master artist in the…

We are very sad to learn of the death of Joe Wilson–folklorist, advocate, producer, legend. His wisdom, actions, and wit guided so many in our field. https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/fellows/joseph-wilson An obituary for Joe Wilson can be found…

We are sad to learn that the great cowboy poet and singer Glenn Ohrlin of Mtn. View, Arkansas has died. In the late 1990s, Mr. Ohrlin participated in a tour organized by Julie Youmans, then…

Our condolences to the friends and family of Johnny Lee Vincent, founder of the Sally Mountain Show and Sally Mountain Park Bluegrass Festival. R.I.P. An obituary for Mr. Vincent can be found here: https://bluegrasstoday.com/johnny-vincent-remembered/

We were sad to learn yesterday that Judith McCulloh has died. Dr. McCulloh was an exemplary leader in the field of folklore. For 35 years, she worked at the University of Illinois Press, where she…

We were sad to learn that Ellen Gray Massey, the inimitable Ozarks teacher and author, has died. If she were known for nothing else but editing “Bittersweet, the Ozark Quarterly Magazine,” that would be plenty….

R.I.P. Don Lipovac, of Kansas City, Kansas–polka musician extraordinaire and member of the Tamburitza Association Of America‘s Hall of Fame. Mr. Lipovac moved easily across the Kansas/Missouri state line, regularly performing at the Sugar Creek…

We were very sad to learn yesterday that Luther Medley of Poplar Bluff passed away in October 2013. Mr. Medley was an apprentice in the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program with master luthier Bernard Allen in…