Welcome to the Song of America!
The Song of America is a unique 50-song, three-CD set designed to tell the history of our country through song, from 1492 through modern times. Featuring a diverse array of artists including Folk Family Robinson (Black Crowes), the Blind Boys of Alabama, Devendra Banhart, Martha Wainwright, Andrew Bird, Janis Ian, Marah, Old Crow Medicine Show and more, Song of America spans the folk, blues, rock, R&B, country, classical and hip-hop genres while portraying our nation’s progress. The purpose of the collection is to provide contemporary recordings of popular songs that played an important role in capturing a historical moment or theme to inspire further study of the history of our country.
The historical detail of the songs fascinated me and I suggested that Ed [Pettersen] record a whole album of songs focusing on key periods of American history, in order to tell our story to young people who might find joy in learning history in music.
- Janet Reno, Former U.S. Attorney General
History through Music
Dr. Deane Root of the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for American Music, and the Voices Across Time project, provides timelines and in-depth historical notes on the music. CD sales benefit non-profit organizations which promote the preservation of our musical history and the teaching of history through music, including the Voices Across Time project, Folk Alliance, and the Sing Out Resource Center.
