Interview with folklorist James P. Leary
by Mike Pengra and James Leary
March 31, 2016
I had heard about Alan Lomax and his travels around the globe recording folk music in the mid-20th century, but what I didn't know was that he actually came to the Upper Midwest to record musicians from this part of the country as well. Lomax is one of three different folklorists who spent time in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan in the late 1930s and early 1940s to sample and record the folk music of this region.
James P. Leary is a folklorist and professor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Leary's new book, Folk Songs of Another America: Field Recordings from the Upper Midwest, 1937-1946, examines the travels of these historians through their recordings … many of which are included in the companion CDs to Leary's book. Leary's liner notes for the companion recordings were even nominated for a Grammy Award.
In the Twin Cities for a speaking engagement and a concert, Leary dropped by the Radio Heartland studio to talk about his book and to sample some recordings of the folk music of this part of the country.
Listen to our complete conversation by clicking the audio player above.