Folk & Bluegrass

Leonard Cohen is a singer-songwriter, whose unpolished voice is described as "intimate." His folk music was popular in the 1960s and his songs have been recorded by many artists. Before becoming a musician, Cohen was already a novelist and poet best known for his novel "Beautiful Losers."

Guitarist and signer Jane Voss and singer Hoyle Osborne play for a live audience at Fresh Air's music studio. Their style incorporates the blues, Tin Pan Alley, vaudeville, and originals. Voss and Osborne are also married and today is their tenth anniversary.

Musician John Phillips was a member of the group The Mamas & The Papas, a pop-folk band that was popular in the 1960s. Phillips has recently written his autobiography "Papa John."

Accordionist William Schimmel explains how his instrument lends itself to stylistic mash-ups and improvisatory approaches to composition.

Folk festival mainstay Michael Cooney performs several songs he learned while on the road.

Fiddler and folklorist Michael Doucet plays with the band Beausoleil. He tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross about the history of and techniques involved in the Louisiana-based genre.

Folk singer Michael Cooney returns to Fresh Air to perform two songs originally written in the 1920s

Accordion player William Schimmel examines the stylistic nuances that distinguish the genre.

Puerto Rican songwriter and performer Roy Brown discusses the Nueva Cancion movement, which sets politically-charged poetry to music. He performs several songs in studio.

Folk musician Michael Cooney returns to Fresh Air to share two older love songs that he thinks do a better job of conveying emotion than the pop hits of today.

Blues and country musician Roy Bookbinder joins Fresh Air to talk about his career on the road and the issues involved with being a white singer performing traditionally black music. He plays several songs in-studio.

Folk singer Garnet Rogers will play a song which sets to music a poem by Australian Henry Lawson.

Folksinger Hazel Dickens. She sings and appears in the John Sayles film "Matewan." Dickens is best known for her traditional renditions of country and folk tunes and for her songs of protest.

Folk singer Bill Staines will perform two songs that reflect on the change in seasons.

Guitarist Bob Brozman. He'll play two songs from the 20s, one a Fats Waller tune, on his National Steel Guitar.

Singer Judy Collins. She's just written an autobiography; it's titled Trust Your Heart.

Guitarist Bob Brozman will perform two songs on his National Steel guitar.

Accordionist William Schimmel will perform several tangos.