Ritchie Family Songs & Stories

Join Jean Ritchie's nieces for an intimate gathering as they share traditional, sacred, and family-favorite songs, stories, and Appalachian dulcimer playing style of Kentucky's "singing family of the Cumberlands." Learn Ritchie family songs that tell of true and lost love, jealousy, grief, death, and perhaps even the supernatural. Hear humorous family tales that also weave in some of the history of the Folk School and Hindman and Pine Mountain Settlement Schools. This is a rare opportunity to celebrate the Folk School's centennial through the songs, stories, and music of the Ritchie Family. All levels welcome.

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A member of the singing Ritchie family, Patty Ritchie Tarter most enjoys encouraging folks, young and old, to sing together. Growing up with a rich repertoire of traditional Appalachian songs and learning songs written by her Aunt, Jean Ritchie, Patty is happy to bring those songs to you. She has been a song leader for many years at Berea Christmas Country Dance School and several years at the John C. Campbell Folkschool. She performs with her sister and cousins as The Ritchie Nieces.

Susie Ritchie grew up in the Ritchie family, known as Kentucky's "Singing Family of the Cumberlands." She is honored to help keep her family's rich repertoire of traditional Appalachian songs and the original songs written by her Aunt, Jean Ritchie, alive today. She performs with her sister, Patty, and cousins as The Ritchie Nieces. She especially enjoys singing together in harmony at special gatherings, like Berea Christmas Country Dance School, Hindman Settlement School, and Cumberland Dance Week.