Arhoolie Records

05/06/2023

We're mourning the passing of Chris Strachwitz, founder of Arhoolie Records. Chris' work documenting and releasing the traditional music of countless communities helped America know itself better, and his curious, tenacious spirit was an inspiration to so many.

Chris Strachwitz
Arhoolie Records Founder
July 1, 1931 - May 5, 2023

​​We celebrate the life of our founder, friend, and great record man Chris Strachwitz. He died peacefully at home in Marin County, CA, surrounded in his last days by dear friends and family. Over his 91 years, Chris captured the music that represents the best “down home music” the world has to offer. He was at the forefront of nearly all the roots revivals over the last 60 years including blues, zydeco, Cajun, Norteño and Tejano music. His drive to document traditional music helped introduce the nation to our diverse musical heritage. He had the foresight to save music that might have otherwise been lost to obscurity and played a role in strengthening cultural traditions through his records, films, and most recently the Arhoolie Foundation. He cared for those around him, fought for royalties and recognition for Arhoolie artists, and provided counsel to countless musicians, writers, film makers, and academics. Plans for a public celebration of his life will be announced in the coming weeks. Today we're thinking of all that Chris brought to our lives and the lives of the musicians and fans with whom he shared his passion.

12/01/2020

We’re excited to announce the launch of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings' new digital exhibition celebrating Arhoolie's 60th anniversary! The new website features rarely seen images of Lydia Mendoza, Mance Lipscomb, Flaco Jimenez​, Black Ace, and more; essays by Folkways’ Jeff Place, Nicole Mullen of the SFO Museum​, and Chris Strachwitz himself, playlists and a definitive discography. It offers fans an immersive journey through the label's history, digging deep into Strachwitz’s relationship to the artists, the story behind our name and logo, and its enduring legacy.

Chris Strachwitz moved to the United States from Germany in 1947 and fell in love with American roots music. His first love was New Orleans jazz, but radio broadcasts from Los Angeles and Baja California introduced him to hillbilly, rhythm & blues, gospel, Mexican norteño music and beyond.

12/05/2019

The support of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings members makes it possible for them to preserve collections from 19 labels like Arhoolie for future generations to enjoy and learn from.

If this mission resonates with you, consider becoming a member, or tag someone who may be interested!

Members are a vital part of Folkways’ community, and receive exclusive merch, discounts, and $1000+ in free downloads per year.

The Smithsonian Folkways membership is for everyone who has a passion for music and cultural heritage. Whether you are an educator, artist, archivist, student, or supporter this is a community you want to join. With your support, we can continue our mission.

09/18/2019

"Chris Strachwitz is a legendary record producer who has spent almost 50 years preserving various forms of folk music in the U.S. through Arhoolie Records. In the late '70s, he worked with acclaimed film maker Les Bank on the documentary 'Chulas Fronteras,' which remains one of the purest documentations of Chicano life here in the U.S."

Three portraits of musicians and a filmmaker who illuminate distinct forms of Mexican music expression.

09/13/2019

"Chris Strachwitz is a man possessed. "El Fanatico," Ry Cooder calls him. A song catcher, dedicated to recording the traditional, regional, down home music of America, his adopted home after his family left Germany at the close of WWII. Mance Lipscomb, Lightnin' Hopkins, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Big Mama Thornton, Clifton Chenier, Rose Maddox, Flaco Jimenez... the list is long and mighty.

Chris Strachwitz is a keeper. His vault is jam-packed with 78s, 33s, 45s, reel-to-reels, cassettes, videos, photographs — an archive of all manner of recordings. And an avalanche of lifetime achievement awards — from the Grammy's, The Blues Hall of Fame, The National Endowment for the Arts – for some 60 years of recording and preserving the musical cultural heritage of this nation through his label, Arhoolie Records." - The Kitchen Sisters

Chris Strachwitz is a man possessed. A “songcatcher,” capturing and recording the traditional, regional, down-home music of the US, his adopted home after his family left Germany following the end of World War II. His archive is jam-packed with 78s, LPs, 45s, reel-to-reels, cassettes, videos –...

10/14/2016

Tonight October 14th on PBS-TV watch Chris Strachwitz receive his Grammy Trustees Award and see performances by Henry Gray, the Magnolia Sisters and others. Here's what Chris has to say about it
"On “my portion” of this PBS TV program you will see and hear the great blues singer and pianist Henry Gray from Baton Rouge, La, who in his 90s still played and sang magnificently. Henry was accompanied by our friend Ry Cooder and bassist Don Was, both of whom also backed my dear friends from the Louisiana Cajun Country, Ann Savoy and the Magnolia Sisters!

But (almost!) the entire program was a remarkable display of amazingly varied and enjoyable popular American music: from blues to rap – from jazz to rock – from Mexican rancheras to singer/songwriters, and on to far-out sounds! "- Chris Strachwitz

In collaboration with PBS' "Great Performances" series, The Recording Academy will air "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" — a special all-star concert honoring The Recording Academy's 2016 Special Merit Awards recipients — on Oct. 14 from 9–11:30 p.m. on PBS.Taped at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the…

05/20/2016

Chris Strachwitz of Arhoolie Records on the radio right now 10AM west coast time.http://www.kqed.org/radio/listen/

Listen Live to KQED Public Radio 88.5 in San Francisco and 89.3 in Sacramento.

05/10/2016

Thanks to the generosity of Laura and Ed Littlefield of the Sage Foundation, and the encouragement of the Savoy Family (the First Family of Cajun Music), the revered Arhoolie Records has been acquired by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the nonprofit record label of the national museum. Arhoolie ...

01/27/2016

Arhoolie recording artists HowellDevine will be at the Great American Music Hall Thursday, Feb. 11;
Opening for Americana Rocker, Keifer Sutherland

A rowdy early Valentines night out at this perfect lowdown blues hoedown with Oakland/SF's shack-shakin' Mississippi Hill Country & Delta Blues trio HowellDevine. The band is opening support for Americana rocker (and renowned actor),
Keifer Sutherland and his band.

Thursday, Feb.11
Great American Music Hall
859 O'Farrell St.
San Francisco, CA 94109

01/13/2016

Arhoolie Founder Chris Strachwitz to receive the Grammys 2016 Trustee Award

JOHN CAGE, FRED FOSTER, And Chris Strachwitz TO BE HONORED WITH TRUSTEES AWARDEMT AND DR. HARVEY FLETCHER TO RECEIVE TECHNICAL GRAMMY® AWARDSSANTA MONICA, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2016) —The Recording Academy®  announced its Special Merit Awards recipients today, and this year's Lifetime Achievement Aw…

12/02/2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOE ASCH! Moe was an inspiration to many people including Chris Strachwitz. Wednesday, December 2, 2015, would have been the 110th birthday of Folkways Records founder Moses “Moe” Asch (1905–1986)
Listen to an interview with Folkways founder Moses Asch by Chris Strachwitz on the Arhoolie Foundation website.

Moses Asch (Folkways Records) Folkways Records founder Moses Asch in his office.photo by Diana Davies, Courtesy Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution. All Rights Reserved. Harry Smith is a nut, right? He knows every date, he knows every place, he knows everything.…