1930s Folk Music: The Sounds of a Decade

1930s folk music was a unique blend of various styles and influences. In this blog post, we’ll explore the sounds of this decade and some of the artists who helped shape it.

The 1930s- a decade of change

The 1930s were a decade of change. The Great Depression brought economic hardship to much of the world, and many people turned to music as a form of escapism. In America, folk music became hugely popular, with artists like Woody Guthrie and the Carter Family achieving national fame. Elsewhere, European countries were experimenting with new styles of music, including jazz and swing. The 1930s was a decade that saw the birth of some of the most iconic sounds in music history.

The Great Depression- a time of hardship

The 1930s were a time of hardship for many Americans. The Great Depression left millions of people out of work and struggling to make ends meet. But in spite of the difficult circumstances, the 1930s were also a time of great creativity and musical innovation.

Folk music played an important role in the lives of Americans during the 1930s. This genre of music was seen as a way to preserve the traditions of the past and to provide hope for the future. Folk musicians such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger inspired a new generation of singer-songwriters with their songs about social justice, the working class, and the environment.

In addition to folk music, other genres such as swing, blues, and jazz also flourished during the 1930s. These styles of music provided people with a much-needed sense of escapism from the harsh realities of life during the Great Depression.

Despite the challenges of the times, the 1930s was a decade that produced some truly timeless music.

The rise of folk music

In the 1930s, folk music was on the rise in America. Artists like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger were gaining popularity, and folk music was starting to be heard on the radio. The sounds of the decade were changing, and folk music was at the forefront of that change.

The 1930s were a time of great economic hardship in America. The stock market had crashed, and millions of Americans were out of work. But in spite of all that, there was still a lot of hope and optimism in the country. People were looking for ways to escape their problems, and they found it in the form of music.

Folk music was the perfect antidote to the struggles of everyday life. It was simple, honest, and direct. It spoke to the heart of America, and it gave people something to believe in. Folk music became a symbol of hope for a nation in need of a little bit of light in its dark times.

The influence of Woody Guthrie

Woody Guthrie was one of the most famous and influential musicians of the 1930s. His songs reflected the experiences of working people during the Great Depression and were often critical of government policies. Guthrie’s music inspired a generation of folk musicians, including Bob Dylan.

The Weavers- a folk music group

The Weavers were a folk music group founded in the late 1930s by Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman. The group’s repertoire included traditional folk songs, songs written by members of the group, and labor- and topical songs. Their signature sound was built around Hellerman’s rich baritone, Gilbert’s powerful contralto, Hays’lead singing, and Seeger’s bright tenor.

Folk music during the Civil Rights Movement

Folk music played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1930s. African American folk singer Lead Belly, for example, wrote and performed songs that protested against racism and injustice. His songs were often adapted by civil rights activists, who would change the lyrics to fit their own purposes. Folk music during this time was a powerful tool for social change.

Joan Baez- a folk music icon

Joan Baez is a folk music icon who got her start in the late 1950s. Her voice and guitar style were influential in the early days of the folk music revival. She is best known for her work with protestors during the civil rights movement and for her opposition to the Vietnam War.

Simon and Garfunkel- folk rock duo

Simon and Garfunkel were a folk rock duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the most popular groups of the 1960s and their hits include “The Sound of Silence,” “Mrs. Robinson,” and “The Boxer.” The duo began performing together in 1964 while they were both students at Queens College, and they released their first album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., in 1964. The album was not a success, but their second album, Sounds of Silence, was a huge hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The duo’s folk rock sound was influential in the 1960s and they helped to popularize the genre. Simon’s lyrics are often based on personal experience and social commentary, and his songs have been covered by many other artists. Garfunkel’s smooth tenor vocals are also a huge part of the duo’s sound. In 1970, the duo split up due to creative differences, but they reunited several times over the years for live performances and tours. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000.

The folk music revival of the 1960s

During the 1960s, there was a folk music revival in the United States. This Revival is often seen as part of the broader counterculture movement of the time. The folk music revival brought renewed interest in traditional folk songs and folk musicians from across the country.

One of the most famous folk musicians of the time was Woody Guthrie. Guthrie was a musician and songwriter from Oklahoma who wrote hundreds of songs about the American experience, including “This Land Is Your Land.” Guthrie’s songs were covered by many other artists, including Bob Dylan.

The folk music revival also led to the rise of new folk musicians, like Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary. These artists brought folk music to a new audience and helped to make it more popular than it had been in years.

The legacy of 1930s folk music

The 1930s was a decade of great upheaval economically, socially, and politically. In the United States, the Great Depression led to widespread poverty, unemployment, and homelessness. In Europe, the rise of Nazi Germany led to World War II. And yet, despite all this turmoil, the 1930s also saw a flowering of American folk music.

The early part of the decade was dominated by artists such as Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly, who were influenced by the folk-blues tradition. The mid-1930s saw the rise of the so-called “urban folk” movement, led by artists such as Pete Seeger and Josh White. And in the late 1930s, a new generation of folk musicians began to experiment with traditional folk songs, creating a new style that would come to be known as “protest music.”

The legacy of 1930s folk music can still be heard today in the work of contemporary artists such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. But its greatest legacy may be in the way it inspired Americans to use music as a tool for social change.