The Folkways Records

Folkways Records, founded by Moses Asch in 1948, is an influential label that specialized in recording and preserving traditional and culturally significant music from around the world. It captured a wide variety of genres, including folk, blues, world music, and ethnic sounds, serving as an important archive of musical diversity. The label’s goal was to document and share authentic cultural expressions, often focusing on music that might not have been commercially popular at the time. Folkways Records played a crucial role in broadening access to global and folk traditions, and its catalog is now part of the Smithsonian Institution, ensuring long-term preservation.