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.
Los Pingüinos del Norte
I believe when I first heard Mexican music on the radio, there was a little station in Santa Paula, which is very close south of Santa Barbara. And in the afternoons, I would sneak back into my room sometimes.
Listen HereChris Strachwitz Interview:
Rev. Louis Overstreet 1962/63
In the summer of 1960 Chris Strachwitz came across a gospel musician and his four sons preaching on the streets of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Listen as Mr. Strachwitz describes meeting and recording Rev. Louis Overstreet and then listen to the interview he recorded with Rev. Overstreet in 1962.
Listen HereChris Strachwitz 1956 New Orleans
In 1956 Chris Strachwitz was discharged from the US Army at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Armed with a camera and the love of New Orleans jazz he took a bus to New Orleans for his first visit to his “city of dreams”. Here is an interview with Mr. Strachwitz talking about that trip and the photos he took.
Listen HereKEUN – Eunice, LA 1962 Gallery
In 1962 Chris Strachwitz journeyed on a road trip that took him from California to Texas and all through the South, the East Coast, Midwest, and then back down to the South before heading back to California. While driving from New Orleans back towards Texas, he heard a Cajun radio show on KEUN-AM and drove to Eunice to check it out. Here is an interview with Mr. Strachwitz talking about that visit to Eunice, Louisiana and the photos he took.
Listen HereMike Seeger Interview
From approximately the late 1960s through the mid 90s, Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz was a radio host on KPFA-FM in Berkeley, California. On March 30th, 1986 he had Mike Seeger on as his guest. This interview comes from a cassette of that show.
Listen HereAlbert Chevalier Zydeco Roots Interview
Albert Chevalier was born March 20, 1909 in Lafayette, LA. His father played accordion often accompanied by someone beating on a piece of tin, someone scraping a broom handle on the wooden plank floor, and accompanied by fiddle and triangle.
Listen HereFrankie Lee Sims Interview
“I always could sing see. I always could sing but my hobby, what I really loved, was the guitar. You go somewhere where the guitar was at. I just didn’t pay no attention.”
Listen HereHerbert Sam Interview – Zydeco
Herbert Sam was born near Opelousas, LA., in 1924 into a musical Creole family. His father played accordion and so did his mother and two brothers, including Ambrose Sam who in the 1950s went to Los Angeles, Ca, and played for the Creole community in that area.
Listen HereBlind James Campbell Interview
Born in Nashville in 1906, Blind James Campbell was a blues singer and guitarist who was blinded in a work accident. He and his Nashville street band were active from the ‘30s to the ‘60s, and they recorded and released a record on Arhoolie in 1963 (Blind James Campbell and His Nashville Street Band).
Listen HereStanley Willis Interview
Stanley Willis was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on November 15, 1922. His mother played piano, and Stanley remembered musicians coming to the house to rehearse when he was just a small child. He recalled being passed around “like a loaf of bread” by a group of old women and placed in front of the church piano at the age of four.
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