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…

See what the Missouri Arts Council had to say about Missouri Folk Arts and the 30th Anniversary of the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program here!

Read Jim McCarty’s feature on Missouri’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program here!

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…

Thinking Out Loud brings you an intimate look into some of Missouri’s oldest folk-art traditions: from blacksmithing to jazz, traditional song, and dance.

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…

In this essay from 2014, Barbara MacRobie, Missouri Arts Council’s Public Information Coordinator, shared profiles of a few Missouri artists who are aging creatively. Master old-time fiddler Cliff Bryan (b. 1927; d. 2017) told MacRobie…

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/