The Pennywhistlers were an American singing group founded by folklorist and singer Ethel Raim and popular during the 1960s

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. They specialized in Eastern European choral music, sung primarily

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. Folk singer

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, in his autobiography ''Theo'', called them "the closest to the real thing in authenticity in the United States."Bikel, Theodore ''Theo: The Autobiography of Theodore Bikel.'' University of Wisconsin Press. . p. 159 They toured throughout the 1960s, appearing at the ''

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'' hootenanny at Carnegie Hall, the

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, and the

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, among others. They shared the bill with performers such as

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Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notably ...

Joan Baez Joan Chandos Baez (; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing more ...

Reverend Gary Davis Reverend Gary Davis, also Blind Gary Davis (born Gary D. Davis, April 30, 1896 – May 5, 1972), was a blues and gospel singer who was also proficient on the banjo, guitar and harmonica. Born in Laurens, South Carolina and blind since infancy ...

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, and many others.

Recordings

* ''The Pennywhistlers'' (Folkways Records FW-8773, 1963) * ''The Pennywhistlers: A Cool Day and Crooked Corn'' (Nonesuch H-72024, 1965) * ''The Pennywhistlers: Folksongs of Eastern Europe'' (Nonesuch H-72007, 1967) * ''Songs of the Earth'' (with Theodore Bikel) (Elektra)

References

External links

Ethel Raim at the Association for Cultural Equity website
American vocal groups A cappella musical groups American folk musical groups Musical groups established in the 1960s {{US-singing-group-stub