I have always liked American folk music. I first recall hearing a folk song in 1950, “Goodnight, Irene,” which was performed by a new group, The Weavers. This song was a big hit nationally, as was its flip side — a rare event in pop music — “Tzena, Tzena, Tzena.” The Weavers followed this double hit with “So Long (It’s Been Good to Know You”), “On Top of Old Smokey,” and others. The money rolled in. The Weavers were leftists. They ran into booking problems two years later when the lead male singer, Pete Seeger, was accused by Harvey Matusow … Continue reading Goodnight, Irene