Wednesday, September 23, join Charlie—2019 Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Songwriting Contest winner—for a look at the life, legacy, and music of Woody Guthrie.

Woody Guthrie’s songs grew out of the lives of ordinary people. Their struggles, their hopes, their work, and their dreams for a better world. From This Land Is Your Land to the countless songs and stories he left behind, Guthrie helped shape the tradition of American folk music and inspired generations of songwriters who followed.

Charlie Mosbrook has been exploring and performing Woody’s music for decades. He first performed Guthrie’s music at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in 1996, in a Hard Travelin’ program that also included Roots of American Music Founder, Kevin Richards, and Roots board member, Jason White.

Click through to read more and purchase tickets.

We're excited to share a few updates from the ROOTS board!

First, please join us in congratulating Toni Brown—known to many Shaw students as Mrs. Brown—on her new role as Board Secretary.

Toni has been part of the ROOTS community for many years. She first connected with our organization as a teacher who welcomed our Stop the Hate program into her classroom, and she has remained a passionate supporter ever since. Her firsthand experience as an educator brings an invaluable perspective to our board as we continue to navigate changes in education and look for meaningful ways to support teachers and serve students. We are grateful for her leadership, excited to have her in this new role, and look forward to the impact she'll continue to make.

We're also thrilled to welcome Hugh Tobin to the ROOTS Board of Directors.

If you've attended our Masters of American Music Series, Hugh is already a familiar face. During our recent executive transition, he was an invaluable partner, generously sharing his expertise in event planning, branding, marketing, and organizational strategy. His enthusiasm for ROOTS and belief in our mission have been evident every step of the way, and we're excited to officially welcome him to the board.

The 2026-27 school year is fast approaching, and with that, we are thrilled to announce that we are welcoming interest forms for Classroom teachers interested in Stop the Hate: Youth Sing Out songwriting workshops in their middle and high school classrooms. Our songwriting workshops are a flagship programs here at ROOTS, and a phenomenal tool to facilitate a shared experience in your classroom through meaningful conversation, songwriting, and recording. Made possible through the generosity of the Maltz Museum, this experience is available at no cost to 45 classrooms in Cleveland and surrounding Northeast Ohio counties during fall 2026.

On Wednesday, August 26, join acclaimed blues musician Kristine Jackson for a special evening honoring Robert Lockwood Jr., Cleveland's legendary blues master and one of the most influential guitarists in American music. Having performed with Robert over the years, Kristine brings a deeply personal perspective to his music, sharing stories, songs, and memories that celebrate both his extraordinary artistry and the remarkable man behind it.

…

The evening will feature special appearances by Roy Lockwood, Robert's son; Gene Schwartz, a beloved and respected figure in Northeast Ohio's music community and a longtime friend of Robert; and a rare musical performance by D.C. Carnes. Each guest shares a direct and meaningful connection to Robert Lockwood Jr., offering unique stories and perspectives that bring his legacy to life.

When David Mayfield takes the stage on July 22 to celebrate the music of Bill Monroe, he'll be joined by someone with a remarkable Monroe story of his own.

Roots of American Music is pleased to welcome Paul Kovac to the next installment of the Masters of American Musicseries at Visible Voice Books. Long recognized as one of Northeast Ohio's finest acoustic musicians, Kovac has spent decades performing bluegrass, folk, and traditional American music. Along with David Mayfield, he's been one of the region's leading bluegrass players for decades, and the two have been longtime collaborators, appearing on each other's projects and sharing stages throughout their careers.

Roots of American Music continues its new Masters of American Music series—an ongoing concert and storytelling experience celebrating the artists who shaped the foundations of American music.

Held on the fourth Wednesday of each month, the series brings audiences into an intimate setting where music and storytelling come together, connecting listeners more deeply to the history behind the songs.

For the July program in this series, David Mayfield will perform the music of Bill Monroe.

The evening reflected everything the Masters of American Music series strives to create: meaningful conversations, memorable performances, and opportunities to connect audiences with the people and stories behind America's musical traditions.

Contact programs@rootsofamericanmusic.org if you would like to have a music residency in your learning environment.

Join us June 24th at Visible Voice Books!

Ray Flanagan and Mary Frances Hurt will have a night of music and conversation to celebrate the music of Mississippi John Hurt at Visible Voice Bookstore stage one May 27, 2026