ASCH Records was founded by Moses Asch in 1940, originally as Asch Recordings, with a focus on recording and distributing Yiddish music. The label quickly expanded to include a range of ethnic and folk music from around the world. In 1948, after financial troubles led to bankruptcy, Asch rebounded by establishing Folkways Records in the name of his secretary, Marian Distler, marking a shift from 78 RPM recordings to LPs. Folkways became a significant platform for American folk, blues, and world music, and it was instrumental in bringing folk music into the cultural mainstream. The label featured recordings from iconic artists such as Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Pete Seeger, and Cisco Houston. Folkways also captured a wide variety of ethnic music, including African, Asian, and European folk traditions, with notable albums like Religious Folk Music of India and Sounds and Dances of Haiti.
In 1952, Asch collaborated with ethnomusicologist Harry Smith to release the Anthology of American Folk Music, a groundbreaking collection of southern and midwestern folk songs. Asch’s commitment to preservation was evident in his refusal to ever delete a title from the Folkways catalog, ensuring a comprehensive archive of folk music that still remains influential. After his death in 1986, Folkways and its vast archive of recordings were acquired by the Smithsonian Institution, where they became part of Smithsonian Folkways Records. Asch’s work left an indelible mark on American folk music, preserving countless recordings that continue to serve as primary resources for folklorists, musicians, and cultural historians.
ASCH Records Discography
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