ARHOOLIE FOUNDATION COLLECTIONS:Chris Strachwitz Collection
Big Mama Thornton Photo Gallery
Big Mama Thornton Photo Gallery Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton (December 11, 1926 – July 25, 1984) was a Rhythm and Blues singer, harmonica player and...
Read MoreBig Mama Thornton Interview
“…I would like very much to do spirituals. Because I feel that I got the voice. I feel like I got the power. I just feel like I could just do them. You would be surprised, mostly my occupation every morning is turn on my radio and listen to spirituals. I love those spirituals. I love good singing.”
Read MoreLos Alegres de Terán Photo Gallery
Los Alegres de Terán Photo Gallery Los Alegres de Terán were one of the earliest Mexican Norteño bands started by Eugenio Abrego and Tomás Ortiz in...
Read MoreMaddox Brothers and Rose Photo Gallery
The Maddox Brothers and Rose “America’s Most Colorful Hillbilly Band” These images were collected by Chris Strachwitz and are part of the Arhoolie Foundation’s Chris Strachwitz...
Read MoreFred and Rose Maddox Interview
“I had about 10 pounds in my sack and I sat down and just started thinking…’Fred, what are you doing back there?’ I said, ‘I’m thinking.’ ‘What are you thinking?’ I said, ‘I’m thinking let’s go into the music business.”
Read MorePaul Oliver Interview
In this hour long interview, British blues historian and author Paul Oliver and Chris Strachwitz discuss the Ann Arbor Blues Festival, blues, American music, culture, and much more.
Read MoreK.C. Douglas Interview – Blues
“This guy, when the high water was in 1927, the Mississippi River had all that, they had all kind of”…”The guy made a record called “Barbecue Bob” about Mississippi Heavy Water Blues.”…”That’s the biggest high water they ever had in the Mississippi River. That’s the time, oh man. Washing houses and everybody, people was going down there to sit on top of houses, just going on out.”
Read MoreJoe Patek Interview – Czech Polka
“We don’t do it for money, [or] trying to make a living out of it. We do it for hobby because we love music. I don’t go fishing. I don’t go hunting. I don’t own a gun and don’t own a fishing pole but I’ll go 150 and 200 miles to play a dance.”
Read MoreBlues Musician Big Joe Williams Interview 1960
Born in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi in 1903, Joe Lee “Big Joe” Williams is a renowned blues musician known for his use of a nine-string guitar. He talks to Chris about making his living traveling with medicine shows, playing with a young Muddy Waters, and making records.
Read MoreChris Strachwitz on Houston Record Labels
Jazz Report Vol. 2 No. 8. In 1962 Chris Strachwitz was writing a blues column for Jazz Report magazine. Here is part two of three articles...
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