This episode explores the variations, history, and geography of the bluegrass song “The Roving Gambler.”
Host: Olivia Harding
Special thanks to: Ashford King, The Cecil Sharp House/Ralph Vaughan Williams Library, and Aaron J. Morton
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Listen to Ashford King: https://open.spotify.com/album/1IZwE0c1mzOQtd3nnWn8nE?si=A5AenKxXRvmAiM_duUVHPg
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Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: Doc Watson
WORK: The Roving Gambler
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhTcFh_jAnM
ARTIST: Larry Sparks
WORK: Roving Gambler
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVrfqvHVbdU
ARTIST: Albert Sallee
WORK: Roving Gambler
SOURCE: https://digitalcollections.uark.edu/digital/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/1771
ARTIST: Donna Everett
WORK: Roving Gambler
SOURCE: https://digitalcollections.uark.edu/digital/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/1221
ARTIST: Rambling Jack Elliott
WORK: Roving Gambler
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B5BHG5G1P8
ARTIST: The Corries
WORK: Roving Journeyman
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5LzHSci1Lg
ARTIST: Harry Brazil
WORK: Rambling Irishman
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDaC883iJjo
ARTIST: Tom Willett
WORK: The Roving Journeyman
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_DoReXQMRM
ARTIST: Delia Murphy
WORK: Roving Journeyman
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bztY9bHbbVA
ARTIST: Samantha Bumgarner
WORK: The Gamblin’ Man
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWfszrzc51Q&t=121s
ARTIST: Leroy Gardner
WORK: Gambling Man
SOURCE: https://digitalcollections.uark.edu/digital/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/2942
ARTIST: The Wolfe Tones
WORK: Paddy Lay Back
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QqpcENtS-s
ARTIST: Joan Baez
WORK: The Trees They Do Grow High
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh7Lcw0ZIWc
ARTIST: The Staple Singers
WORK: Move Along Train
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fdbij67yUs
ARTIST: Alison Krauss
WORK: Down to the River To Pray
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SZv7JJqcNY
ARTIST: Clancy Brothers and Robbie O’Connell
WORK: Moonshiner
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du8Naz_iAg4
ARTIST: Johnny Whistletrigger
WORK: Guerrilla Man
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB1OweaWbxc
ARTIST: Ashford King
WORK: Roving Gambler
SOURCE: https://open.spotify.com/track/5rkkQsz2EC9VaFTnAJWAHJ?si=213e5631c1a04ca0