Ep 2 - The Armstrongs, Part 2: George & Gerry Armstrong, Unsung Musicologists

The Archives Podcast

In Episode 2, Mareva Lindo and Emma Rothman explore the Armstrongs’ trove of field recordings, focusing on their trips to Beech Mountain, NC, where they collected songs from friends such as the Hicks Family, Frank Proffitt, and Lee Monroe Presnell. Original recordings featured in this podcast include (in order of occurrence): - Bagpipes performed by George Armstrong, 3/20/1982 - “Wondrous Love,” performed by George and Gerry Armstrong, Howie Mitchell, and Lee Monroe Presnell in Beech Mountain, NC, 7/13/1963 - Gerry Armstrong on Frank Proffitt and the first University of Chicago Folk Festival, 1982 - Lee Monroe Presnell telling a story about a girl and seven Indians, 7/13/1963 - “Broken Token,” performed by George and Gerry Armstrong, 7/13/1963 - "Pretty Crowing Chicken," performed by Gerry and Jenny Armstrong, 1982 - “Simple Gifts," performed by George and Gerry Armstrong, 3/20/1982 Texts referenced in this podcast include: - “The Last Chivaree” by Robert Isbell, 1996 - “Frank Warner: A Love Affair with Folk Songs” by George Armstrong in Come For to Sing, vol. 4 no. 3, Summer 1978 - “Folk Tales as a Living Tradition” by Gerry Armstrong in Come For to Sing, vol. 4 no. 4, Autumn 1978 - “Return to Beech Mountain” by George Armstrong in Come For to Sing, vol. 11 no. 3, Summer 1985