Ritchie

The remarkable life of Jean Ritchie, from her childhood in Eastern Kentucky to international recognition as a folk music legend, airs as an encore presentation on Kentucky Muse. "Mountain Born: The Jean Ritchie Story" airs Thursday, Jan. 15 at 10/9 p.m. CT on KET1.

Archival photos and home movies help Ritchie tell the story of her childhood in the Southeastern Kentucky foothills. The youngest of 14 children, she recalls her home as crowded but full of music. She went on to graduate from the University of Kentucky and then moved to Port Washington, New York, where she worked at the Henry Street Settlement Music School and married photographer George Pickow.

Ritchie talks about her early performances and working with folklorist and song collector Alan Lomax, legendary folk musicians Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, and bluegrass master Doc Watson, among other famous names in American music.

Once a member of the board of directors for the Newport Folk Festival, she also gives her first-hand accounts of some of the event's most memorable moments, including the stirring performances from the Civil Rights movement, Bob Dylan's shocking transition to electric guitar and her moving unaccompanied rendition of "Amazing Grace."

Eventually, Ritchie began writing her own songs, including "Black Waters," "The L and N Don't Stop Here Anymore" and "Blue Diamond Mines." She shares her take on the versions of her songs recorded by Johnny Cash and Michelle Shocked and talks about a performance of one of her songs by Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt. Ritchie also discusses recording her own albums, such as None But One, which was named Rolling Stone's Best Folk Album of 1977.

Ritchie's extraordinary tale is brought to life with archival performance footage, photographs, recordings and interviews with Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Watson, sons Peter and John Pickow, radio show host Oscar Brand, Kentucky author James Still and others.

The encore of "Mountain Born: The Jean Ritchie Story " is presented by Kentucky Muse. The 1996 KET production was produced by H. Russell Farmer and Guy Mendes. Nancy Carpenter was executive producer. Teresa Day is series producer of Kentucky Muse. More information about Kentucky Muse is available at www.ket.org/muse.