Jean ritchie biography

Interview with Mary K. Lee

NEA: I want to congratulate you on your award.

MS. RITCHIE: Thank you. I'm still shocked by it.

NEA: What was your reaction when you found out?

MS.

RITCHIE: When Barry Bergey told me the news, I just sat silent for a while. I couldn't believe it. I've worked in the field all my life and I've written many many letters of recommendation for other people.

Singing was as common as breathing in the Kentucky mountain community in which Jean Ritchie was born on December 8,

But I never thought I would be considered.

NEA: I know that music has always been important to the Ritchie family. Could you talk about that and growing up with music?

MS. RITCHIE: We never realized how important it was until we scattered and got away from each other and began to hear other kinds of music.

Growing up we just used music all the time without realizing it. We used it when we were working.

Jean ritchie kentucky mountain songs

We sang when we were around the house doing dishes or out in the cornfield. Or walking along roads and going to each other's houses and having parties. Music was always a big part of our life but w