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Chris Strachwitz Photos

Chris Strachwitz, founder of both Arhoolie Records and the Arhoolie Foundation, has been documenting vernacular music since the 1950’s. An avid photographer, he has taken over 25,000 photographs, which he recently donated to the Arhoolie Foundation. The Arhoolie Foundation is now in the process of digitizing and cataloging them. Here are just a few examples.

D.L. Menard
Bill Monroe, New Orleans, 1985
Mance Lipscomb at the Greek Theatre
Clifton Chenier & Bonnie Raitt, 1974
Canray Fontenot
Sacred Steel
Valerio Longoria and Lydia Mendoza
Lightning Hopkins, Berkeley, CA 1967
James Campbell, Bell Ray, Beauford Ray, George Bell
Hector Duhon, Octa Clark
Rockin' Dopsie, 1981, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
Clifton Chenier, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
D.L. Menard, 1982
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Quartet 1985
Ralph Stanley and Roy Lee Centers, 1972
Abner Jay
Vern Williams & Ray Park
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, 1972
Michael Doucet
Calvin Carriere, Michael Doucet, Marc Savoy
Canray Fontenot
Isidro Lopez
1963
Cora Lee Carter Jackson, John Jackson and Cora Beth Johnson - 1967
Juke Boy Bonner - Houston 1967
unknown musicians
Lydia Mendoza
Lydia Mendoza
Onward
Bill White and Rose Maddox 1982
Boozoo Chavis, 1987
Chris and Alex Moore
Don Santiago Jimenez and Flaco Jimenez, 1982
Eureka Brass Band
Tony Delafose, Geno Delafose, and John Delaphose - 1982
King Louis H. Narcisse, 1963
Lowell Fulson -1963
Lydia Mendoza 1982
Morris Ardoin, Gustav Ardoin, Alphonse Bois Sec Ardoin - 1973
Oscar Telles, Flaco Jimenez, Peter Rowan, 1988
unknown musicians
Punch Miller, 1960
Queen Ida 1982
Santiago Jimenez Jr. & Ann Savoy, 1982
Steve Jordan, 1982
Tohono O'Odham 1963


Statement on the passing of Chris Strachwitz

Arhoolie Records Founder
July 1, 1931 – May 5, 2023

We celebrate the life of our founder, friend, and great record man Chris Strachwitz. He died peacefully at home in Marin County, CA, surrounded in his last days by dear friends and family. Over his 91 years, Chris captured the music that represents the best “down home music” the world has to offer.

He was at the forefront of nearly all the roots revivals over the last 60 years including blues, zydeco, Cajun, Norteño and Tejano music. His drive to document traditional music helped introduce the nation to our diverse musical heritage. He had the foresight to save music that might have otherwise been lost to obscurity and played a role in strengthening cultural traditions through his records, films, and most recently the Arhoolie Foundation. He cared for those around him, fought for royalties and recognition for Arhoolie artists, and provided counsel to countless musicians, writers, film makers, and academics.

Plans for a public celebration of his life will be announced in the coming weeks. Today we’re thinking of all that Chris brought to our lives and the lives of the musicians and fans with whom he shared his passion.

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