Perfect Traveller tracks down the Founder of Arhoolie Records in the USA?
What a miserable world it would be, without music. All of us have a favorite song that makes us smile, or has us reflecting upon who we are. Our favorite music might even have us doing a little jig as we get about our day. Music is life and reflects the intriguing diversity of people's and cultures on this planet of ours. The history of the United States is a remarkable history of the people that make up the country and music reflects the passion and innovation of these people. I believe that to better understand a country, be it ancient like Italy, or relatively new like America, it helps to look at the music of that country; who made it and why and who is making it today. When I stumbled across an article recently about Chris Strachwitz, I was both amazed and intrigued.
He was born in Germany in 1931 to an aristocratic family as Count Christian Alexander Maria Strachwitz. Like so many he suffered life under Nazi rule and came to the United States after World War II, and as a high school student originally lived in Reno, Nevada. I suspect a fascination and love for music was already part of this young man's make-up when from the start he said, "The variety of American musical styles, especially their driving beat enthralled him." He goes on to say, "The rhythms haunted me, I'd hear all this stuff on the radio and it just knocked me over. I thought this was absolutely the most wonderful thing I had ever heard." The stuff that Chris discovered on radio was the life-blood of American vernacular music which included a mesmerizing mix of blues, folk, jazz, Cajun, Tex-Mex, country, zydeco and gospel.
Just north of Berkeley today, in a building whose sign declares, "Down Home Music" you will discover Arhoolie Records, created some 50 years ago by Chris. This is an island of music, spanning decades, and collected, catalogued and presented to the world by one man's passion and vision. Richard K. Spootswood, author of 'Ethnic Music on Records' said that Chris Strachwitz's role in preserving American grass-roots music has been critical. Chris himself prefers to be out in the field, tracking down another lost or forgotten musical gem and adding that sound to his collection. Starting in the 60's he found, recorded or in no small way helped revive the careers of seminal bluesmen like Bukka White, Lightnin' Hopkins, Lipscomb and Mississipi Fred McDowell.
You may not have known of the existence of Arhoolie Records and Chris Strachwitz before reading this article, but now you do. However, for many in the music industry, Arhoolie has been an oasis of inspiration and innovation over many years. The likes of Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Bratt and T Bone Burnett have been regular visitors to "Down Home Music." When Arhoolie released a record of Big Joe Williams strumming madly away on a nine-string guitar, it was heard in a downtown blues and folk record store in Los Angeles. Ry Cooder said, "That recording, Arhoolie's second release, changed my life."
Music is life and life is music. Chris Strachwitz has known that all his life!
He was born in Germany in 1931 to an aristocratic family as Count Christian Alexander Maria Strachwitz. Like so many he suffered life under Nazi rule and came to the United States after World War II, and as a high school student originally lived in Reno, Nevada. I suspect a fascination and love for music was already part of this young man's make-up when from the start he said, "The variety of American musical styles, especially their driving beat enthralled him." He goes on to say, "The rhythms haunted me, I'd hear all this stuff on the radio and it just knocked me over. I thought this was absolutely the most wonderful thing I had ever heard." The stuff that Chris discovered on radio was the life-blood of American vernacular music which included a mesmerizing mix of blues, folk, jazz, Cajun, Tex-Mex, country, zydeco and gospel.
Just north of Berkeley today, in a building whose sign declares, "Down Home Music" you will discover Arhoolie Records, created some 50 years ago by Chris. This is an island of music, spanning decades, and collected, catalogued and presented to the world by one man's passion and vision. Richard K. Spootswood, author of 'Ethnic Music on Records' said that Chris Strachwitz's role in preserving American grass-roots music has been critical. Chris himself prefers to be out in the field, tracking down another lost or forgotten musical gem and adding that sound to his collection. Starting in the 60's he found, recorded or in no small way helped revive the careers of seminal bluesmen like Bukka White, Lightnin' Hopkins, Lipscomb and Mississipi Fred McDowell.
You may not have known of the existence of Arhoolie Records and Chris Strachwitz before reading this article, but now you do. However, for many in the music industry, Arhoolie has been an oasis of inspiration and innovation over many years. The likes of Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Bratt and T Bone Burnett have been regular visitors to "Down Home Music." When Arhoolie released a record of Big Joe Williams strumming madly away on a nine-string guitar, it was heard in a downtown blues and folk record store in Los Angeles. Ry Cooder said, "That recording, Arhoolie's second release, changed my life."
Music is life and life is music. Chris Strachwitz has known that all his life!
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