‘Mother of Folk’ Jean Ritchie Dead at 92

Jean Ritchie, the Kentucky-born singer known as the "Mother of Folk," died Monday evening (June 1) in her home in Berea, Ky., surrounded by those she loved. She was 92.

Born on Dec. 8, 1922, in Viper, Ky., Ritchie was immensely influential in popularizing traditional folk music from Appalachia and brought the well-loved ballads she grew up with to a widespread audience from the 1950s onward. Ritchie was the youngest of 14 children, and one of her family's biggest sources of entertainment was singing the ballads passed down from their Scottish and Irish ancestors -- songs that, eventually, the world would hear, thanks to the young singer.

According to the New York Times, in 1946, Ritchie graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor's degree in social work, then moved to New York City, where she became a social worker. She taught her beloved songs to the children she worked with, then began performing locally; folklorist Alan Lomax heard her sing and was so impressed with her talent that he recorded her for the Library of Congress.

Record producer Mitch Miller also heard Ritchie's humble-yet-ethereal voice and got her a contract with Elektra Records. Ritchie's first solo record, Jean Ritchie Singing the Traditional Songs of Her Kentucky Mountain Family, was released in 1952. Though she preferred to sing a cappella, letting her crystal-clear voice work its magic, Ritchie also introduced audiences to unfamiliar instruments, including the mountain dulcimer and autoharp. Ritchie performed hundreds of songs, including "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair," ''Old Virginny," 'One Morning in May" and "Aunt Sal's Song." One of the most famous songs she penned was "Black Waters," which denounces Kentucky strip mining, as well as "West Virginia Mine Disaster."

In her long lifetime, Ritchie was a great many things, including a teacher, record label owner, author and instrument-maker, as well as a deeply influential musician. Kathy Mattea recorded two of Ritchie's songs on her 2008 album, Coal ("The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore” and “Blue Diamond Mines"), and Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and the Kingston Trio are just some of the artists who have recorded Ritchie's numbers.

Last year, a 37-track, two-disc collection, Dear Jean: Artists Celebrate Jean Ritchie, was released, featuring many accomplished artists paying homage to the gifted woman who brought old Appalachian songs to new audiences.

A visitation will be held Sunday (June 7) at the Union Church in Berea, Ky., from 2PM until 4PM, with a memorial gathering following at 4PM, according to WYMT.

The Boot extends our condolences to Ritchie's loved ones.

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