Jim Rooney has spent the past fifty years or so playing, writing, promoting, recording, and producing American folk music – both traditional and contemporary. He is, perhaps, best known these days as the record producer for Nanci Griffith, Iris Dement, John Prine, and many others – a body of work for which he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the AMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION in 2009.
He also has a Facebook page for current happenings. Feel free to “Like” it
These podcasts are installments broadcast by Royalton Community Radio in Vermont, a sort of companion soundtrack to Jim’s new memoir IN IT FOR THE LONG RUN, his third book about the history of this music.
==================================================
Listen to Podcast #11 here
Program #11: New and different music @ Club 47. Staple Singers, Joni Mitchell, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Mose Allison.
============================================
Listen to Podcast #12 here
Program #12: Country music folk legends play Club 47. Flatt & Scruggs, Maybelle Carter, Merle Travis, Grandpa Jones.
===========================================
Listen to Podcast #13 here
Program #13: Younger artists reaching bigger audiences through radio. Charles River Valley Boys, Tom Rush, Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, The Chambers Brothers.
===========================================
Listen to Podcast #14 here
Program #14: Roots music at Newport Folk Festival and its influence on younger performers. Ed & Lonnie Young, Bessie Jones & The Georgia Sea Islanders, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Almeda Riddle, Roscoe Holcomb, Lightnin’ Hopkins, The Balfa Brothers.
===========================================
Listen to Podcast #15-20 here
Program #15: “New Folks” @ Newport. John Hartford, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Young, Fairport Convention, Blue Velvet Band, Everly Brothers & Ike Everly.
Program #16: Festival Time. Producing New Orleans Jazz festival gave a chance to soak up music of the French Quarter: Olympia Jazz Band, Armand Hug, Ellis Marsalis, Clarence “Frogman Henry, Fats Domino, Louis Armstrong. Tour managing Newport Jazz Festival w/ Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Mann, Gary Burton, Thelonious Monk, Dionne Warwick.
Program #17: Move to Woodstock to manage Bearsville Sound Studio for Albert Grossman. Music of The Band; “Mud Acres” w/ Happy & Artie Traum, John Herald, Maria Muldaur, Eric Kaz, Bill Keith; Borderline w/Jon & David Gershen, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson, Ben Keith, Vassar Clements, Kenny Kosek.
Program #18: Moving into music; leaving Woodstock. Producing Eric Von Schmidt; time in Nashville hearing James Talley, Townes Van Zandt; back to Massachusetts playing with Bill Keith, Everett & Tennis Lilly; producing John Lincoln Wright.
Program #19: Take demo of “Only The Best” to Nashville. Taken in by “Cowboy” Jack Clement (Johnny Cash, Charlie Pride, Waylon Jennings); meet Allen Reynolds (Don Williams)
Program #20: Return to Woodstock to record “Woodstock Mountains.” Meet Pat Alger; At Jack Clement’s in Nashville record “No Expectations” w/ Phillip Donnelly, Tony Newman, Rachel Peer Prine; start producing (Pat McLaughlin, Garrison Brothers); help John Prine start up “Oh Boy!” Records with “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (single) and “Aimless Love” (album)