October 19: Moses Asch and Folkways Records

Moses Asch, the founder of Folkways Records, died on this date in 1986. He was the son of the famed Yiddish writer Sholem Asch. Musicians recorded by Moe Asch included Woody Guthrie, Ella Jenkins, Pete Seeger, Josh White, and Leadbelly. After Asch’s death, the Folkway recordings, numbering some 2,200, were acquired by the Smithsonian Institution.

“It’s my purpose to expose an artist, and if some big company wants him, fine. I can’t afford to have a best seller, because I have 1,600 items and if all my efforts go to one record, what will happen to the other 1,599?” —Moe Asch