Ollie Gilbert Explained

Ollie Gilbert (1892–1980) was a folk musician from the Ozarks in Arkansas.[1] [2] She sometimes performed as "Auntie Ollie". Max Hunter recorded her singing more than 300 folk songs.[3]

She was from the Mountain View area.

In 1964, she and Jimmie Driftwood were interviewed by Studs Terkel.[4] A recording of her performing "Willow Green" is on the album Songs of the Ozarks.[5] An archival recording of her performing Balladeer of Cole Younger was presented on Danny Dozier's Ozark Highlands Radio show where she was introduced as a "prodigious Ozark folk balladeer".[6]

One writeup described her voice as being like gravel.[7]

She recorded Auntie Ollie Gilbert Sings Old Folksongs to Her Friends on Rackensack RLP.[8] She recorded a version of Blue Suede Shoes in 1965.[9] Gilbert was an influence on Shirley Collins who visited and recorded her on a trip with Alan Lomax.[10] Her husband Oscar Gilbert played the fiddle, was also a singer, and was a moonshiner.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ollie Eva Woody Gilbert (1892–1980) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas. www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net.
  2. Web site: Jewish Post 14 February 1975 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. newspapers.library.in.gov.
  3. Book: Cochran, Robert. Our Own Sweet Sounds: a Celebration of Popular Music in Arkansas - 2nd Ed. (p). February 3, 1996. University of Arkansas Press. 9781610752947. Google Books.
  4. Web site: Jimmie Driftwood, Ollie Gilbert in conversation with Studs Terkel. The WFMT Studs Terkel Radio Archive.
  5. Web site: Various - Folk Songs From The Ozarks. Discogs.
  6. Web site: PRX. beta.prx.org.
  7. News: Nelson . Sarah Jane . A Salesman Amidst Scholars—Collector Max Hunter . 23 May 2020 . CDSS News . Spring 2016.
  8. Book: William M. Clements. Arkansas Folklore Sourcebook (c). 1992. University of Arkansas Press. 978-1-61075-033-2. 237.
  9. Book: Cochran, Robert. Our Own Sweet Sounds: a Celebration of Popular Music in Arkansas - 2nd Ed. (p). 23 December 1996. University of Arkansas Press. Google Books. 9781610752947.
  10. Web site: Shirley Collins: New Video 'Pretty Polly' + Live Dates - Folk Radio UK. folkradiouk. 27 October 2016.

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