In the 1930s during the Depression, the Works Project Administration was formed to help put people to work. One such project was the WPA California Folk Music Project organized by Sidney Robertson Cowell, an ethnomusicologist, and supported by the Music Division of University of California at Berkeley. Ms. Cowell gathered folk songs from immigrants and migrants throughout northern California including Concord, Pittsburg, and Richmond. Concord local Jessie de Soto was one of the many singers recorded.
These recordings inspired David Steinberg, faculty member of San Francisco Community Music Center, to create an event to bring these recordings to life through new performances by contemporary musical artists. Enjoy! [recorded: 23 Feb 2025]
Now Playing: Lecture Tunes From Our Backyard - David Steinberg
Now Playing: Yo Sempre Allegre feat - Diana Gameros
