Playing in the Domain

Learn about one family's contribution to preserving America's folk song style and tradition. From the writings of song collectors in the 1910s, to the field recordings of documentarians starting in the 1960s, members of the the Wallin family of Big Laurel, North Carolina performed tunes handed down through generations, including "Rain and Snow" and a "Conversation with Death."

Learn about this traditional folk song and its journey from the Appalachian Mountains to the Grateful Dead's first album. Some music clips from the Library of Congress. Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2024.

Learn about this traditional holiday song, which sprang from the imagination of a children's music teacher in 1864. Some music clips from the Library of Congress. Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2023.

Learn about Professor John T. Layton, longtime choir director of an historic D.C. church, and his wife Julia Mason Layton, teacher and later activist and lecturer, who rallied for women's voting rights, among other causes. The couple helped produce the first AME Church hymnal to have muscial notation. Some clips from the Library of Congress. www.loc.gov Some sound effects provided through FreeSFX...

Learn about lyricist Henry Creamer and pianist Turner Layton whose six-year collaboration produced the classic "After You've Gone," first published in 1918. Some clips found at the Library of Congress. www.loc.gov Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2023.

Learn about this classic carol, which began as an ode to the fir tree. Penned in 1824 by an organist in Germany this song is now a beloved holiday carol in praise of the Christmas tree. Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Some clips from the Library of Congress. www.loc.gov Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2022.

Learn about The Charleston, a dance that defined the 1920s. From its origins in the Carolina sea islands to city nightclubs and the New York stage, this infectious dance craze spread across the world with young and old kicking up their heels. Everyone and their grandma knew how to Charleston.

Learn about songwriting team Roy Turk and Lou Handman who wrote "My Sweetie Went Away," as well as the classic Elvis ballad "Are You Lonesome Tonight." Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Some clips from the Library of Congress. www.loc.gov Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2022.

Learn about this country western group who were popular radio personalities in the 1930s and 40s, and their Pennsylvania music theme park, where they hosted popular and legendary artists beginning in 1940 through to the early 1960s.

Learn about prolific hymnwriter Ada J. Blenkhorn and composer J. Howard Entwisle and their classic American hymn and bluegrass standard "Keep On the Sunnyside of Life," published in 1899. Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Some clips from the Library of Congress. www.loc.gov Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2022.

Learn about singer and actor Bill Shirley, who sang his way into Hollywood, and whose voice is forever preserved as part of two iconic movie classics. Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2022.

Learn about American composer Stephen Foster and his parlor ballad "Beautiful Dreamer," first published in 1864 after his death. Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Some clips from the Library of Congress. www.loc.gov Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2022.

Learn about singer Ruth Etting, who left her Nebraska home to become one of the most recognized voices of radio, recordings and movies in the 1920s and 30s. Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2022.

Learn about this timeless sentimental ballad from 1924, written by big band leader Isham Jones and movie lyricist Gus Kahn. Some music clips from freemusicarchive.org Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2022.

Learn about singer, dancer and early recording artist, Eva Taylor, also known as Irene Gibbons, who was one of the first black voices heard on radio in the 1920s and the first singer to record classics like "Ain't Misbehavin'." Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2021.

Learn about the mostly forgotten Christmas song "Santa Claus Blues" from 1924, written by Charley Straight and Gus Kahn. Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2021.

Learn about pianist and composer Albert Von Tilzer, who co-wrote many memorable tunes, including baseball's theme, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2021.

Learn about Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth, entertainment power couple of the early 1900s. Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Barks by Sophie Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2021.

Learn about American music publisher Willis Woodward and the popular music factory of Tin Pan Alley in the late 19th and early 20th Century. Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2021.

Learn about this timeless American folk tune published in the 1880s.

Learn about Tom Turpin, pianist, composer, and owner of the Rosebud Cafe, ragtime capital in the early 20th Century. Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2021.

Learn about Williams and Warfield's 1923 blues number "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home." Some music clips provided through freemusicarchive.org Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) “Bark” provided by Sophie. Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2021.

Learn about vaudeville star Grace Wilson, the "girl with a millions friends" and model on the sheet music cover for "All Night Long." "Moo" provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2021.

Learn about Shelton Brooks and his song "All Night Long" from 1912. Some music clips provided by freemusicarchive.org Some sound effects provided by FreeSFX (freesfx.co.uk) Riverbend Studios, Copyright 2021.

Theme song