Roots Of American Music

05/28/2026

Thanks for packing the house at Visible Voice Books last night for Ray Flanagan and Mary Frances Hurt!

Save the Date June 24 for Taylor Lamborn presenting the music of Bonnie Raitt.
(Poster and event dropping shortly!)

📸: Michael Weil

05/27/2026

Today’s dose of why we love what we do!

This morning Halle Kindergarten had their graduation ceremony and Blues is the Backbone Teaching Artist, Brother Jack, joined them to celebrate with a song they worked on together during this semester’s program. So much joy in this room! Thank you Jack for sharing the joy and lessons of blues with this talented generation of students!

To Cleveland’s newest rising first graders, CONGRATS!!!

We’ll be singing our new favorite song all summer long.

05/25/2026

Mary Frances Hurt is the living legacy of Mississippi John Hurt. She's dedicated years to relocating his home, his church, building a festival and community of people who can celebrate her grandfather. She produced "A Man Called Hurt" in 2024, premiering it just months after the tragic fire that burnt down the museum where it took home first place at the Nashville Film Fest.

We're so honored to host Mary Frances this week at Visible Voice Books. Join us as we listen to some storytelling and Ray Flanagan will play us some songs!

Masters of American Music: Ray Flanagan Celebrates Mississippi John Hurt

What started out as a quick 15-minute video as a favor for a friend, ended up a star-studded, feature-length documentary that highlights the amazing and insp...

05/25/2026

Peter Chakerian Cleveland.com wrote an incredibly thoughtful article about Ray Flanagan’s latest Album, “My Mind is Burning Up” and added insight into the weight of how meaningful it will be to have Mary Frances Hurt join us on Wednesday.

Excerpt:
For Flanagan, Hurt isn’t just an influence; he is foundational and you can hear it in nearly everything he creates. Hurt’s syncopated fingerpicking style was adopted by many artists during the second half of the 20th Century and critical to a 1960s folk music revival.

Before discovering Hurt’s recordings a decade ago, Flanagan rarely played fingerstyle guitar. Hurt’s intricate but conversational approach to accompaniment — fluid, rhythmic and deeply human — reshaped how he played entirely.

“There’s something about the way those old blues guys could accompany themselves,” Flanagan said. “But John Hurt is just unique.”

That influence stretches beyond technique into songwriting philosophy itself. Through educational programs with Roots of American Music…Flanagan often performs Hurt’s “My Creole Belle” for schoolchildren and watched classrooms instinctively begin singing along. He calls it mindblowing.

“It’s one of those songs where kids just start singing it,” he said. “And it makes me think about your own songwriting. A song should make you want to sing it on its own.”

…

Mary Frances Hurt has since become a leading force in preserving not only her grandfather’s memory, but much of the broader historical and cultural significance surrounding it. When Flanagan learned she would appear alongside him at the event, the emotional weight hit like a ton of bricks.

The full article is available to read here: https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2026/05/new-album-in-tow-ray-flanagan-headlines-roots-of-american-music-event-at-visible-voice.html

Make sure to give Ray’s latest album a spin! https://rayflanagan.bandcamp.com/album/my-mind-is-burning-up

And buy tickets for THIS Wednesday!
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/rootsofamericanmusic/event/moamrfmjh/?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demo0e5te1wt

Roots of American Music continues its new Masters of American Music series—an ongoing concert and storytelling experience celebrating the artists who shaped the foundations of American music.

05/13/2026

We’re excited to celebrate 250 years of American music with a number of live private and public events this summer! Our roster of talented artists can share their expertise on a diverse range of genres spanning the history of the US, including jazz, country, bluegrass, blues, folk, Americana, rock and roll, gospel, R&B, soul, hip hop, and much more.

If you or your organization are planning to honor “America 250” this year and need entertainment, don’t hesitate to contact Roots Of American Music:

[email protected]

📸:

04/27/2026

Counting down the days til May 27. Join us at Visible Voice Books for Masters of American Music: Ray Flanagan Celebrates Mississippi John Hurt

Buy your tickets ahead of time and mark your calendars!

99K likes, 3.3K comments. "Mississippi John Hurt - You Got To Walk That Lonesome Valley (Live)"

12/12/2025

As we approach the end of another meaningful year, all of us at Roots of American Music want to share our heartfelt thanks for being part of our community. Your support—whether through attending concerts, sharing our mission, or partnering with us as one of the many Cleveland-area organizations who champion our work—has helped us make a real impact throughout the year.

We’re also excited to share that Taylor Lamborn, a longtime ROOTS Teaching Artist and performer, has stepped into the role of Executive Director. With Program Director Charlie Mosbrook Music and Operations Manager Tam Sivertson, our team is well-positioned to lead ROOTS into 2026 and beyond. Their collective vision, experience, and passion for our mission bring tremendous energy to the work ahead, and we invite you to get to know the full team on our updated and streamlined website. www.rootsofamericanmusic.org.

As you consider your year-end giving, we hope you’ll keep ROOTS in mind. Your generosity fuels the programs and progress that make our mission possible, and every gift—large or small—makes a meaningful difference.

Wishing you and your loved ones peace, joy, and a bright start to the new year.

With gratitude,
Roots of American Music

10/22/2025

Wonderful story about the incredible Charlie Mosbrook. Much-deserved recognition for ROOTS’ educational program director.

Cleveland folk musician Charlie Mosbrook is one of the local music scene’s real treasures. In addition to a lengthy discography (including his newly released album... READ MORE

08/11/2025