ARHOOLIE FOUNDATION COLLECTIONS:Audio Interviews
Audio interviews by Chris Strachwitz during his research into the music he was recording for his label Arhoolie Records as well as for his radio programs on KPFA-FM (Berkeley, CA) in the 1960’s through 1980’s, and by Dr. Manuel Peña during his research for his several books on Mexican American music.
Ry Cooder Interview
“Once you can see somebody play, I’ve always found this to be true, it illuminates the whole situation, how they hold the instrument, how they physically go about doing these things. Copying notes off a record is pointless. You got to know how they get themselves in a physical state and then things happen, they just seem to happen…
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John Hogg Interview
I don’t know. It’s just in me. It’s in me. They say- Actually, the guys, since I’ve been on the west coast have changed me over kind of on the modern kick, but I still can’t away from this.
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Bukka White Interview
“‘I just reach up and pull them out of the sky – call them sky songs- they just come to me.’ That’s how Bukka White described his music making. His performances were not polished, finished, slick tin pan alley songs but marvelous, on the spot creations – images and recollections as they come to the artist’s mind.”
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Chris Strachwitz Remembers Mance Lipscomb
That’s his name, is Mance Lipscomb. That’s the first time we ever heard his name. And he told him exactly where he lived on the Washington road and gave us the address. And we went there and of course he wasn’t home. It was kind of in the middle of the afternoon or late afternoon by then.
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Deep Dives: Our Interview Archive
Arhoolie Records always worked to give voice to the musicians. In addition to releasing hundreds of records, hours of interviews with musicians and others were recorded...
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Sacred Steel Archive: Ron Hall Interview
Bishop Ron Hall played a significant role in the formative years of several Detroit, Michigan steel guitarists and contributed to establishing the presence of the steel guitar at the House of God, Keith Dominion annual General Assembly in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Dennis McGee Interview
Dennis McGee Interview Dennis McGee speaks candidly with Chris Strachwitz about Cajun music, his relationship with Amédé Ardoin, and his early days as a musician. Six...
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Ramiro Cortés Interview
Ramiro Cortés Interview Ramiro Cortés talks to Chris about his years as Lydia Mendoza’s impresario. Just after quitting his job playing baseball for the Coca Cola...
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Sacred Steel Archive: Alvin Lee Interview
Alvin Lee Interviews Brothers Alvin, Glenn, Keith and Derrick were the driving force of the church band at the House of God church in Perrine, about...
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Sacred Steel Archive: Aubrey Ghent Interview
Aubrey Ghent’s peers universally acknowledge him as a master of the six-string lap-steel guitar. This interview, recorded in November 1992, documented my first meeting with a musician who played in what would become known as the “sacred steel” tradition.
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