John Hartford Audio Collection

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John Hartford Audio Collection

circa 1952-2001, bulk 1970-1995

https://mtsu.edu/popmusic/findingaids/pdfaids/JohnHartfordAudio.pdf

Hartford created this collection to document virtually every aspect of his rich musical life. Hartford, as many musicians noted, “always had his tape recorder running.” He recorded rehearsals, informal jam sessions, metronome practice, concert performances, field recordings and oral histories of fiddlers, parties, “Journal Tapes” with song ideas and more. The tapes include examples of old time fiddling, bluegrass, Hartford’s original songs, Newgrass creation and exploration, and even recordings of him playing folk and roots rock music with artists such as Delaney and Bonnie and Shel Silverstein. The processed portion of the collection is comprised of 952 digital audio transfers and the corresponding photographic scans of the original source tapes, cases, and J-cards. These recordings date mainly from 1971 to 2000 with some examples of radio performances by Flatt and Scruggs and others that date to the early 1950s. The recordings, most of which were made in very comfortable, familiar settings for the musicians, offer unique insights into the personalities and playing of important figures in bluegrass, newgrass, and old time music such as Earl Scruggs, Benny Martin, Bill Monroe, Vassar Clements, Tut Taylor, and Norman Blake. The jam sessions Hartford taped consist of his usual collaborators, as well as unique combinations of master musicians that never recorded or performed together. During these jams, the musicians often discuss their inspirations, playing styles, and past histories in an intimate setting that would usually be very difficult for someone outside their immediate social circle to access. Taken as a whole, this collection illustrates John Hartford’s unique role as a visionary, a hit making pop songwriter, hippie iconoclast, hard-core traditionalist, master singer and instrumentalist, and ringmaster of a brilliant and fun music scene based out of his riverside home in Madison, Tennessee.

5,494 manuscript audio tapes, including cassette tapes and DAT tapes

eng, Latn

Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 11675964

Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University

Related Entities

There are 2 Entities related to this resource.

Hartford, John Cowan, 1937-2001

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xq7wfp (person)

John Cowan Hartford (December 30, 1937 – June 4, 2001) was an American folk, country, and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore. His most successful song is "Gentle on My Mind", which won three Grammy Awards and was listed in "BMI's Top 100 Songs of the Century". Hartford performed with a variety of ensembles throughout his career, and is perhaps best kn...

Bush, Sam, 1952-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6000brt (person)

Charles Samuel Bush (born April 13, 1952) is an American mandolinist who is considered an originator of progressive bluegrass music. In 2020, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a member of New Grass Revival. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame a second time in 2023 as a solo artist....