Booth Shot Lincoln: Illinois Historical Folksongs of Death and Disaster
Illinois has a rich tradition of folksongs related to death and disaster in the state. Tornados, murders, hangings, floods, shipwrecks, gang violence, assassinations, fires, and train wrecks all claimed victims in song. Bucky Halker’s new CD, Caskets in the Cornfields, features his renditions of some of these songs and was based on his research about this important material. Join Bucky for a performance and commentary on these “lively” Prairie State songs and their history.
Bucky Halker is a performer, songwriter, and recording artist who also holds a PhD in American History. He has lectured and performed throughout the USA, Canada, and Europe. He is the author of For Democracy, Workers, and God: Labor Protest and Labor Song-Poems. He recently produced the Illinois Humanities Council’s critically-acclaimed CD series Folksongs of Illinois, Vols. 1-3.
Watch video of Bucky Halker performing "I Ain't Got No Home."
Watch a WTTW interview with Bucky Halker.
