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Folk Music

On July 25th, 1965, Bob Dylan walked onstage at the Newport Folk Festival, plugged in his 1964 sunburst Fender Stratocaster and tore through a scorching three-song set. It was a crucial turning point in his career, and it quickly became rock & roll legend -- the moment when Dylan transformed from a protest folkie to a rebel genius. But the guitar Dylan played on that mythic afternoon went missing for the next 47 years -- until recently, when a team of PBS researchers told New Jersey resident Dawn Peterson that she had it in her home.

Latest Stories

CNN discovers band via Twitterupdated: Fri Mar 16 2012 05:39:00

CNN Music used Twitter to find one lucky band, Royal Teeth, at SXSW, to showcase to the world.

Professor Springsteen's rock 'n' roll history lesson at SXSWupdated: Fri Mar 16 2012 05:39:00

Anyone expecting outspoken rocker Bruce Springsteen to spend his keynote address here at the South by Southwest music conference talking about his new No. 1 album or the politically divided state of the country may have gotten a surprise.

Accused mastermind in singer's death arrestedupdated: Tue Mar 13 2012 21:59:00

Colombian authorities have captured a fugitive accused of being the mastermind behind the killing of an Argentine folk singer in Guatemala last year.

Guatemalan police arrest 2 in connection with singer's slayingupdated: Tue Jul 12 2011 21:17:00

Guatemalan police arrested two suspects Tuesday in connection with the killing of one of Latin America's most celebrated folk singers, but said evidence shows the musician's death could have been a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Analysts: Singer's slaying shines spotlight on Guatemalan violenceupdated: Tue Jul 12 2011 13:54:00

Analysts say the slaying of one of Latin America's best-known folk singers over the weekend shines a spotlight on problems with deep roots in Guatemala: violence, impunity and the pervasive presence of organized crime

Official: Argentine singer shot dead likely not target of attackupdated: Sun Jul 10 2011 18:58:00

Gunmen who shot dead Facundo Cabral likely did not have the Argentine folk singer as their intended target, said Guatemalan Interior Minister Carlos Menocal.

Argentine folk singer shot dead in Guatemalaupdated: Sun Jul 10 2011 16:14:00

Gunmen shot dead Argentine folk singer Facundo Cabral on Saturday as his car made its way to the airport in Guatemala City, police said.

Environment vs. jobs in new Battle of Blair Mountainupdated: Tue Jun 14 2011 13:47:00

We're at the peak of Blair Mountain in the middle of southern West Virginia. It's about 85 degrees, the coolest it has been all week, and there's a slight breeze that carries voices before we can see the singers.

New Decemberists album takes 'left turn'updated: Tue Jun 07 2011 09:53:00

Inspired by the ocean, Colin Meloy and Nate Query talk about the Decemberists' new sound.

Soundcheck: The season of The Decemberistsupdated: Tue Jun 07 2011 09:53:00

Nate Query is having what he calls a "Spinal Tap moment."

The 10 greatest Bob Dylan songsupdated: Tue May 24 2011 13:49:00

The next issue of Rolling Stone -- on stands and in the digital archive on May 13th -- celebrates Bob Dylan's 70th birthday (happening on May 24th) by ranking his 70 greatest songs.

Artists pay tribute to their favorite Bob Dylan songsupdated: Mon May 23 2011 11:08:00

"Like a Rolling Stone" (Highway 61 Revisited, 1965) By Bono

New songs for old friends on Emmylou Harris' latest albumupdated: Wed Apr 27 2011 01:38:00

One heat-soaked afternoon last month, hipsters and cowboys shirked a music festival schedule loaded with sparkle and distraction and instead shuffled into a dim convention center ballroom.

UConn wins NCAA tournamentupdated: Tue Apr 05 2011 06:16:00

Fans celebrate after UConn defeats Butler to win the NCAA's men's basketball national championship.

Why do NCAA teams cut down the nets?updated: Tue Apr 05 2011 06:16:00

The men's NCAA Division I hoops championship game is tonight, and we can't tell you whether UConn or Butler is going to win. We can predict two things, though. The winning team will cut down the nets. And CBS will show a highlight montage set to the song "One Shining Moment." Let's take a look at the origins of these traditions.

Topanga: Malibu's hippie cousin?updated: Wed Mar 02 2011 10:37:00

If you have Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush" on your computer, you should play it while you read this. If you have it on vinyl, even better.

Dylan to share Grammy stage with Mumford, Avett Brothersupdated: Thu Feb 10 2011 10:04:00

Featuring something old and something new, singer Bob Dylan rolls onto the Grammy stage this weekend for a performance with Best New Artist nominee Mumford & Sons and roots rockers The Avett Brothers.

Review: Robert Plant's 'Band of Joy'updated: Mon Sep 20 2010 16:52:00

Robert Plant's 2007 album with pop-bluegrass songbird Alison Krauss, Raising Sand, did something 25 years of solo records never quite managed. It fully transformed him from former Led Zeppelin golden god into a roots singer. Plant had never sung so tenderly or collaboratively, commanding a crack modern string band that defined power in terms other than "Physical Graffiti".

Lady Gaga: Innovator or imitator?updated: Thu Jun 24 2010 10:26:00

Is Lady Gaga a pop star genius or a creative copycat? Showbiz Tonight's Brooke Anderson reports.

K'naan's 'Wavin' Flag' hit goes globalupdated: Thu May 20 2010 14:54:00

"Dylanesque" Somali rapper K'naan talks about survival guilt, the World Cup and learning English through hip-hop.

Will college become a luxury for the few?updated: Tue Mar 09 2010 16:47:00

Before the protests of tuition hikes last week, a colleague posted the following: "Need suggestions for protest songs. We have a DJ but need to give her a play list." The requests started coming in: Joan Baez, the Dixie Chicks, The Clash.

White House concert honors music of civil rights eraupdated: Wed Feb 10 2010 01:22:00

Civil rights songs were the soundtrack of the movement that helped bring President Obama to the White House. On Tuesday, Obama welcomed an array of artists to celebrate those songs.

People.com: SAG Awards 2010: Stars Audition for the Glee Club!updated: Mon Jan 25 2010 15:51:00

Hear Marion Cotillard channel Janis Joplin, Kyra Sedgwick belt out Joni Mitchell and more sing-offs on the red carpet

Huston Smith's painful spiritual odysseyupdated: Mon Nov 23 2009 09:38:00

Huston Smith sat at the bedside of his firstborn child, watching her life ebb away.

Fireworks and rock as Czechs celebrate Velvet Revolutionupdated: Tue Nov 17 2009 15:19:00

Fireworks and rock 'n' roll echoed across central Prague on Tuesday as thousands of marchers commemorated the 20th anniversary of the "Velvet Revolution" that toppled Communist rule.

Czech secret police underworldupdated: Tue Nov 17 2009 15:19:00

CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney gets a glimpse into the shadowy underworld of the former Czech secret police.

Canadian folk singer died doing something she loved, mother saysupdated: Fri Oct 30 2009 16:14:00

Those who knew Canadian folk musician Taylor Mitchell say her passion for her craft was matched by her affinity for nature.

Canadian folk singer killed by coyotes, park official saysupdated: Fri Oct 30 2009 15:36:00

A rising Canadian folk singer was killed by coyotes this week in a national park in Nova Scotia, a park spokesman said Thursday.

Mary Travers of folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary dead at 72updated: Thu Sep 17 2009 04:16:00

Mary Travers of 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, has died, according to her publicist. She was 72.

Righteous rocker paved way for new genre of musicupdated: Fri Sep 11 2009 14:59:00

Long before U2 and Bono blazed their own paths, and decades before the Christian music industry became a half-billion-dollar annual business, a hippie musician with long blond locks paved the way.

iReporters who attended Woodstockupdated: Sat Aug 15 2009 14:41:00

CNN producer Jessica Ellis talks about the Woodstock images from iReporters. Mark Goff was a freelance photographer.

Through hazy memories, Woodstock still captivatesupdated: Sat Aug 15 2009 14:41:00

Cheryl Morse was 19 years old when she hitchhiked more than 700 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Bethel, New York. She was determined to make it to the Woodstock music festival.

Bob Dylan a complete unknown in New Jersey townupdated: Fri Aug 14 2009 22:44:00

How does it feel? To be on your own? A complete unknown? Bob Dylan might know.

Five festivals for last bit of summer funupdated: Tue Aug 11 2009 10:12:00

As summer winds to an end, beach umbrellas are coming down and pools are closing, but that doesn't mean the fun is finished. From the National Buffalo Wing Festival crowning the next 'wing king' to the country's best folk artists coming together in Pennsylvania, festivals across the country have fun for everyone.

Nanci Griffith finds her voice againupdated: Thu Aug 06 2009 08:07:00

Nanci Griffith wanted to look on the bright side.

Holly Williams' good 'jeans'updated: Wed Aug 05 2009 08:06:00

CNN's Denise Quan profiles a rising country music star, the singer-songwriter daughter of Hank Williams, Jr.

People.com: David Carradine Found Dead in Hotel Roomupdated: Fri Jun 05 2009 06:36:00

The movie and Kung Fu TV star, 72, was in Bangkok shooting a film

Actor David Carradine found deadupdated: Thu Jun 04 2009 22:42:00

American actor David Carradine has been found dead, hanging by a nylon rope in a hotel room closet in Bangkok, Thailand, according to a Thai police official.

Pete Seeger inspires generations at Jazz Festupdated: Fri May 01 2009 09:03:00

The 90-year-old performer is one of many featured at this year's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Under blue skies on the main stage, with his grandson by his side, they close the set with the Woody Guthrie classic "This Land Is Your Land."

Spinal Tap takes off the wigsupdated: Fri Apr 17 2009 08:03:00

Twenty-five years ago, America discovered "one of England's loudest bands," courtesy of documentarian Marty DiBergi and his film, "This Is Spinal Tap."

Legendary singer Joan Baez says she's finally happyupdated: Thu Nov 06 2008 12:57:00

Joan Baez is in a celebratory mood. And rightly so: She's survived 50 years in show business.

Police feel pump painupdated: Wed May 14 2008 13:00:00

The high price of gas is hurting police departments throughout Minnesota. CNN affiliate KARE reports.

There's no protester like an old protesterupdated: Fri Mar 21 2008 13:34:00

At times it may seem long gone, but the spirit of protest in popular music is not dead.

The Spirit of Music: Is the protest over?updated: Mon Mar 17 2008 09:33:00

"This here ain't no protest song or anything like that, cause I don't write no protest songs."

American wows Japan with hip-hop folk musicupdated: Tue Mar 11 2008 06:01:00

Jerome White Jr. took the stage wearing an oversized baseball cap, baggy jeans and two gold chains -- an aspiring singer from the United States. The Japanese crowd heard a beat reminiscent of American-style hip hop -- but then White started to sing.

'I'm Not There' a thrilling view of Dylanupdated: Wed Nov 21 2007 15:37:00

Just about every inspired film emerges out of some kind of obsession. The singular haunting beauty of "I'm Not There," Todd Haynes' thrilling deep-vision meditation on the music and many lives of Bob Dylan, is that obsession isn't just its fuel -- it's the movie's spirit and subject, its driving force.

Blog: Return to Russiaupdated: Mon Jun 25 2007 04:06:00

I can tell you that some things in Russia may never change. No more than 10 minutes after we landed, my colleague walked through immigration only to have a male immigration officer query her single status and ask "Why no husband?"

Confessions of a record label ownerupdated: Thu Apr 19 2007 09:29:00

Jac Holzman was in love with Love.

The greatest song of all timeupdated: Mon Jun 27 2005 16:03:00

The song broke in the summer of 1965, a fired gun of a drum shot followed by words out of a fairy tale: "Once upon a time, you dressed so fine ..."

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