Sounds of the Florida Folk Festival

The following represents a sample of Florida Folk Festival recordings from the Folklife Collection.
Find more Florida Folk Festival recordings.

1. Tyrolian Dances - Joe Tomazin, Richard Kersey, Edward Kersey and Robert Hart (Download)

Recorded: May 3, 1955 by Foster Barnes (Stephen Foster Center)
1955 Florida Folk Festival
White Springs, Florida
(S 1576, reel T77-31)

From Samsula, Florida, these musicians blended their traditional Yugoslavian music with a country waltz.

2. Invocation - Seminole elder Josie Billie (Download)

Recorded: May 5, 1961 (Stephen Foster Center)
1961 Florida Folk Festival
White Springs, Florida
(S 1576, reel T77-102)

3. Stage Announcement - Sarah Knott (Download)

Recorded: May 6, 1954 by Foster Barnes (Stephen Foster Center)
1954 Florida Folk Festival
White Springs, Florida
(S 1576, reel T76-1)

Born in Princeton, Kentucky in 1895, Sarah G. Knott founded the National Folk Festival (NFF), and served as the president of National Folk Festival Association (NFFA) from the year of its inception in 1934 through 1970. This was her last stage announcement before leaving the role as festival director.

4. Life in the Swamp - Lem Griffis (Download)

Recorded: May 4, 1963 by Foster Barnes (Stephen Foster Center)
1963 Florida Folk Festival
White Springs, Florida
(S1576, reel T77-143)

Lem Griffis was a storyteller from Largo, Georgia. He grew up in the Okeefenokee Swamp, and his stories were considered typical of North Florida/South Georgia.