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Following the phenomenal success of Joel and Ethan Coen’s film “O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?” the music from deepest Appalachia has known an unprecedented resurgence, resulting in several Grammies for participating musicians . Since its release, other films have carried on the torch. “SONGCATCHER” recounts the discovery of the richness of English, Scottish and Irish ballads forgotten in their native land but preserved intact in the small corner of Western North Carolina in which Susi was born.
In reality, it was a British musicologist, CECIL SHARPE, who collected the first of these ballads in a referential book that came out early in the twentieth century. Later, in the 1960’s, JOHN COHEN of the NEW LOST CITY RAMBLERS contacted banjo-player and dance caller PETER GOTT (Susi’s father) for an introduction to his friends and neighbors of Madison County. This resulted in a second, if more modest, collection, with the difference that the songs were recorded this time, and could be heard by those who wished to emulate the style. The recordings can be found on Folkways and Rounder, and are references for those who seek authentic music of a time almost gone by, but ready for its reawakening.
A third widely-recognized film, “COLD MOUNTAIN”, also tells the story of the land of Susi’s upbringing, accompanied by the same music that Susi and her ensembles bring to the stage today.
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