Appreciation: Jean Ritchie, 1922-2015

By Walter Tunis - Contributing Music Critic

Updated June 2, 2015 3:48 PM

Alums 8.jpg — Jean Ritchie, University of Kentucky Graduate, Folk Singer. President H. L. Donovan presented Ritchie with the school's first Founders Day Award here, 1955. Ritchie first encouraged in her music at the Appalachian settlement schools, which also prompted her to enroll in the University of Kentucky's social work program. After taking her degree in 1946, she accepted a job at New York's Henry Street Settlement, hoping to earn the necessary experience to start similar schools near Hazard, which is only a few miles from Viper, her birthplace. Photo Credit: UK Special Collections UK

It’s easy for anyone in Kentucky who grew up with the music of Jean Ritchie to claim her as their own. That’s a polite way of saying it was easy to take her for granted. To us, she was a teacher and neighbor whose graceful but topical songs became a part of our very artistic upbringing.

Read Walter Tunis' tribute at his blog, The Musical Box.

This story was originally published June 2, 2015 at 3:41 PM with the headline "Appreciation: Jean Ritchie, 1922-2015."

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