Memorial Day with the 2025 National Heritage Fellows
This Memorial Day weekend, we hear from the 2025 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows. As our country gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, we meet the great traditional musicians, storytellers, artisans, and cultural advocates who have received our nation’s highest honor in the folk arts. We’ll visit with the honorees, including Creole French musician, Edward Poullard; Haitian dancer and drummer, Peniel Guerrier; Japanese folk dancer, Adrienne Reiko Iwanaga; bit and spur maker, Ernie Marsh; Sicangu Lakota artist and educator, Steve Tamayo; Mexican Folk costume maker and dancer, Carmen Baron; and men's choral and bandura ensemble, the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America. We’ll also hear music and conversation from some of our favorite fellows from years past: bluegrass hero Del McCoury, dancer and drummer from the West African Congo, Sidiki Conde, and New Orleans jazz clarinetist Dr. Michael White, plus a glimpse into an historic Clifton Chenier box set, released in early 2026 for the late Louisiana Creole French King of Zydeco’s 100th birthday.
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Nui Papa Ledward Kaapana
Black Sand, Dancing Cat Records
Segment: Carmen Baron
Segment: Steve Tamayo
Segment: Ernie Marsh
Rock Your Baby Rosie Flores, Wanda Jackson
Rockabilly Filly, Hightone Records
Don’t Worry Baby Flaco Jimenez, Los Lobos
Partners, Reprise
Instrumental: Pepe & Irene Los Lobos, Money Mark
Silencio = Muerte (Red Hot + Latin), The Red Hot Organization, H.O.L.A. Recordings
Segment: Peniel Guerrier
Lucky, Lucky Man Henry Gray
Lucky Man, Blind Pig Records
Chere Duloone Queen Ida & Her Zydeco Band
Caught in the Act, GNP Crescendo
Segment: Edward Poullard
Instrumental: Guitar And Harmonica Rag Bowling Green John Cephas, Harmonica Phil Wiggins
Living Country Blues USA, Vol. 1, L+R Records
Segment: Adrienne Reiko Iwanaga
Segment: Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America
Until I Die The Legendary Ingramettes
Take a Look in the Book, Virginia Folklife
End Bed: Amazing Grace The Campbell Brothers, John Medeski
Can You Feel It?, Ropeadope
HOUR TWO
Dark Hollow Del McCoury Bluegrass Band
Live at the 2021 National Folk Festival in Salisbury, MD
High on the Mountain Del McCoury Bluegrass Band
Live at the 2021 National Folk Festival in Salisbury, MD
Vincent Black Lightning Del McCoury Bluegrass Band
Live at the 2021 National Folk Festival in Salisbury, MD
All Aboard Del McCoury Bluegrass Band
Live at the 2021 National Folk Festival in Salisbury, MD
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Del McCoury Bluegrass Band
Live at the 2021 National Folk Festival in Salisbury, MD
Instrumental: Will the Circle Be Unbroken Dr. Michael White
Blue Crescent, Basin Street
Matt’s Song Sidiki Conde and Friends
American Routes original recording
Dinye Kimba Sidiki Conde and Friends
American Routes original recording
Na Desuba Sidiki Conde and Friends
American Routes original recording
Instrumental: Frog Legs Clifton Chenier
Bon Ton Roulet, Arhoolie
Zydeco et pas Sale Clifton Chenier
King of Louisiana Blues & Zydeco, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings/Arhoolie Records
Ay-Tete Fee Clifton Chenier
King of Louisiana Blues & Zydeco, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings/Arhoolie Records
Walking to Louisiana Clifton Chenier
King of Louisiana Blues & Zydeco, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings/Arhoolie Records
Lafayette Waltz Clifton Chenier
King of Louisiana Blues & Zydeco, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings/Arhoolie Records
Closing Bed: Sing On Treme Brass Band
New Orleans Music, Mardi Gras Records