Jean Ritchie

Jean Ritchie

(Vocals, Autoharp)

• Date of Birth: December 8, 1922
• Place of Birth: Viper, Kentucky
• Married: George Pickow (1950)
• Children: Peter (b. 1954); Jonathan (b. 1958)

After receiving a degree in social work, Jean moved to New York City where she met folklorist Alan Lomax. Lomax recorded her songs for his collection as well as for the Library of Congress Folksong Archives. Jean traveled to the UK for the first time in 1952 after winning a Fulbright Scholarship, where she appeared at the Royal Albert Hall and the Cecil Sharp House, headquarters of the English Folk Dance and Song Society.

Jean’s sister, Edna, is also musical and has recorded on Jean’s ‘Greenhays’ record label