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Dry dusty roads, dark end streets, and rowdy juke joints are where you hear the blues. It was his love of down home blues that inspired Chris Strachwitz to start Arhoolie Records. The earliest releases on the label are blues classics today. Through them, Chris was able to help introduce regional blues artists to fans throughout the country and around the world. This month our Deep Dive takes us to some of the places Chris and Arhoolie traveled with the blues,  and includes stories, photos, posters, and performances from the Blues greats that are housed in our collections.

Visit the Blues Collection at the Arhoolie Foundation Store

Check out our Spotify Blues on Tour playlist to enjoy during the trip:

Listen to the Blues on Tour Playlist on Spotify

Ever wonder what it was like on the American Folk Blues Festival Tour in Europe in 1964 with Sonny Boy Williamson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Willie Dixon and other greats? Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz was there and shares stories of the tour and others involving Sonny Boy Williamson.

Chris Strachwitz on Sonny Boy Williamson
Mance Lipscomb at the Greek Theatre

Mance Lipscomb hadn’t wanted to come all the way, but the $300 check with his name on it, made even a place as far away as California shift just a little bit closer to Texas. UC Berkeley promised another $200 if he made the trip and he would need that money, as he told Chris Strachwitz in a letter to “buy clothes to wair up there and leave my people food.”

Enjoy this picture of Mance at the Berkeley Folk Festival and other blues players and musicians of all kinds on our website:

Mance at the Berkeley Folk Festival and Other Musician Photography

Poster Collection – During his years collecting and recording music Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz acquired many blues, zydeco and gospel posters. So many great artists came through the area and Chris also gathered them on his trips to Texas and Louisiana. The walls at the Arhoolie Foundation are covered with these rare posters. 

Strachwitz Vintage Poster Collection

Down Home Music – In 1963 filmmaker Dietrich Wawzyn set out to shoot a series of films for German television that took him on a tour of the southern US. He contacted Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz, who jumped at the chance to join him and share his enthusiasm for regional musical traditions. Arhoolie Foundation took Wawzyn’s footage and made Down Home Music, now available to watch on our YouTube channel. Here is Lowell Fulson singing the blues in San Francisco from the film. (footage starts around 7:51)

Dear friends,

On Giving Tuesday, we announced the capital campaign to purchase our building at 10341 San Pablo Ave in El Cerrito — home to the Arhoolie Foundation (and before that Arhoolie Records), Les Blank Films, and Down Home Music Store since 1976. We’ve been heartened by the community’s response to our fundraising announcement. To all who have donated so far: thank you. We couldn’t do this without you.

Now, while there is a contract in place to buy the building in partnership with Les Blank Films, we need to raise $1.2 million — our half of the purchase price — by April 15. Donations to the campaign can be made via the link below, by check, or by bank transfer. (To make a bank transfer, please email us at info@arhoolie.org).

In the new year, we look forward to collaborating with Les Blank Films and Down Home Music to bring more public programming to our community. We plan to revive Les Blank and Chris Strachwitz’s tradition of in-store film screenings and will host more informal, free performances and gatherings in the store as part of our outreach work. We believe this collaboration will result in a vibrant community gathering place dedicated to music, film, and deep roots culture.

If you’re interested in donating and would like to discuss our plans for the building, please don’t hesitate to email director Adam Machado at adam@arhoolie.org.

Thank you for your support as we begin this exciting new chapter!

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