Jeff Place (born 1956) is the American writer and producer, and a curator and senior archivist with the

Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage The Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage (CFCH) is one of three cultural centers within the Smithsonian Institution in the United States. Its motto is "culture of, by, and for the people", and it aims to encourage understanding and cultural sust ...

. He has won three Grammy Awards and six Indie Awards.

Early life

Place learned his appreciation for folk music from his parents who took him to

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...

and

Peter, Paul and Mary Peter, Paul and Mary were an American Contemporary folk music, folk group formed in New York City in 1961 during the American folk music revival. The trio consisted of Peter Yarrow (guitar, tenor vocals), Paul Stookey (guitar, baritone vocals), ...

concerts when he was a child. He attended

Kenyon College Kenyon College ( ) is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1824 by Episcopal Bishop Philander Chase. It is the oldest private instituti ...

, graduating in 1979. After college, Place worked in a record store in Washington, D.C. and started writing reviews for the store's magazine, ''REVUE''. He then enrolled in the

University of Maryland The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the Univ ...

, receiving a

Master of Library Science The Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) is the master's degree that combines two interdisciplinary academic disciplines. Library science is applied information science and a subfield of information science. This degree focuses on inf ...

with a specialization in sound archives.

Career

After graduate school, Place started working at the Smithsonian Institution. In 1988, Place and Anthony "Tony" Seeger were the first two full-time employees at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage when the Smithsonian acquired

Folkways Records Folkways Records was a record label founded by Moses Asch that documented folk, world, and children's music. It was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987 and is now part of Smithsonian Folkways. History The Folkways Records & Service ...

from the estate of

Moses Asch Moses Asch (December 2, 1905 – October 19, 1986) was an American recording engineer and record executive. He founded Asch Records, which then changed its name to Folkways Records when the label transitioned from 78 RPM recordings to LP records. ...

. In 1989, he started writing liner notes for the Folkways albums. He has also written companion books for special releases and box sets. Place has been involved in the compilation of more than sixty albums of American music for

Smithsonian Folkways Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C. The label was f ...

. He won three

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

s, two (Best Album Notes and Best Historical Album) in 1997 for ''Anthology of American Folk Music - 1997 Expanded Edition'', and one (Producer) for ''Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Collection'' in 2019. He received Grammy-nominations for five other productions (ten nominations total). He also received six Indie Awards. Place helped curate several exhibitions, including ''This Land is Your Land'' about

Woody Guthrie Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer, songwriter, and composer widely considered to be one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American Left, A ...

''.''

Awards and honors

* National Association of Independent Record Distributors Indie Award, Honorable Mention, Historical Release, 1989 – ''Folkways: The Original Vision'', Smithsonian/Folkways * National Association of Independent Record Distributors Indie Award, Honorable Mention, Historical release, 1990 – ''The Doc Watson Family'', Smithsonian/Folkways *

American Folklore Society The American Folklore Society (AFS) is the United States (US)-based professional association for folklorists, with members from the US, Canada, and around the world, which aims to encourage research, aid in disseminating that research, promote t ...

McCallum Prize, 1994 – for his preservation work leading to ''Long Ways to Travel (The Unreleased Woody Guthrie Sessions)'' *

Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...

, Best Historical Album, 1998 – ''Anthology of American Folk Music'' *

, Best Album Notes, 1998 – ''Anthology of American Folk Music'' * National Association of Independent Record Distributors Indie Award, Best Liner Notes, 1998 – ''The Anthology of American Folk Music'' * National Association of Independent Record Distributors Indie Award, Best Historical Release, 1998 – ''The Anthology of American Folk Music'' * National Association of Independent Record Distributors Indie Award, Best Americana Release 1999 –'' The Harry Smith Connection: A Live Tribute to the Anthology of American Folk Music'' * National Association of Independent Record Distributors Indie Award, Best Historical Release, 2000 – ''The Asch Recordings'' *

Best Album Notes (nominee), 2001 – ''The Best of Broadside'' *

, Best Historical Album (nominee), 2001 – ''The Best of Broadside'' * National Association of Independent Record Distributors Indie Award, Best Packaging, 2001.– ''The Best of Broadside'' * National Association of Independent Record Distributors Indie Award, Best liner Notes, 2001 – ''The Best of Broadside'' * Independent Music Awards, Best Album Compilation, 2010 – ''Classic Appalachian Blues from Smithsonian Folkways'' * Independent Music Awards, Best Reissue Album, 2011 – ''Rising Sun Melodies'' *

, Best Historical Album (nominee), 2013 – '' Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection'' *

, Best Album Notes (nominee), 2016 – '' Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection'' * Independent Music Awards, Best Compilation Album, 2015 – ''Classic African-American Songsters'' * Independent Music Awards, Best Compilation Album, 2018 – ''Classic English and Scottish Ballads from the Frances James Child Collection'' *

International Bluegrass Music Awards The International Bluegrass Music Awards is an award show for bluegrass music presented by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). Awards are voted based on professional membership in the IBMA. Award winners 2021 award winners The ...

, Best Liner Notes, 2019 – ''Epilogue: A Tribute to John Duffey'' *

, Best Historical Album, 2020 – ''Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Centennial Collection'' *

, Best Album Notes (nominee), 2020 – ''Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Centennial Collection'' *

, Best Historical Album (nominee), 2024 – ''Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack McCormick, 1958-1971'' *

, Best Historical Notes (nominee), 2024 – ''Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack McCormick, 1958-1971''

Personal life

After living in

Mayo, Maryland Mayo is a census-designated place (CDP) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 8,298 in the 2010 census. The Mayo CDP of 2010 includes all of the area that used to be counted as the Selby-on-the-Bay CDP. The beach in ...

since 1997, Place moved to Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina in 2020.

Discography

* ''Folkways: The Original Vision.''

, 1989 (co-producer) *

Doc Watson Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (March 3, 1923 – May 29, 2012) was an American guitarist, songwriter, and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and gospel music. He won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His ...

. ''The Doc Watson Family.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 1990 (co-producer and liner notes) * ''Music in the Glen: The 1990 Washington Irish Festival.'' Washington Irish Festival, 1990 (producer) * ''Roots of Rhythm and Blues: A Tribute to the Robert Johnson Era.'' Columbia, 1992 (production assistant) *

and

Clarence Ashley Clarence "Tom" Ashley (born Clarence Earl McCurry; September 29, 1895 – June 2, 1967) was an American musician and singer, who played the clawhammer banjo and the guitar. He began performing at medicine shows in the Appalachia, Southern Appalac ...

. ''Original Folkways Recordings of Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 1994 (co-producer) *

. ''Long Ways to Travel (The Unreleased Woody Guthrie Sessions).'' Smithsonian Folkways, 1994 (co-producer and liner notes). *

Lead Belly Huddie William Ledbetter ( ; January 1888 or 1889 – December 6, 1949), better known by the stage name Lead Belly, was an American folk music, folk and blues singer notable for his strong vocals, virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the ...

, and

The Almanac Singers The Almanac Singers was an American New York City-based folk music group, active between 1940 and 1943, founded by Millard Lampell, Lee Hays, Pete Seeger, and were joined by Woody Guthrie. The group specialized in topical songs, mostly songs ad ...

. ''That's Why We're Marching: World War II and the American Folk Song Movement.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 1996 (producer and liner notes) *

. ''Where Did You Sleep Last Night?: The Lead Belly Legacy Vol. 1.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 1996 (co-producer and liner notes) *

. ''Ballads of Sacco and Vanzetti.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 1996 (co-compiler of reissue) *

. ''This Land is Your Land: The Asch Recordings Vol. 1. Smithsonian Folkways, 1997 (co-producer and liner notes)'' *

. ''The Bourgeois Blues: The Lead Belly Legacy Vol. 2.'' Smithsonian/Folkways, 1997 (liner notes and producer) * ''Anthology of American Folk Music'' (expanded edition). Smithsonian Folkways, 1997 (liner notes and co-producer) *

. ''Muleskinner Blues: The Asch Recordings Vol. 2.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 1997 (co-producer and liner notes) *

. ''Shout On: The Lead Belly Legacy Vol. 3.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 1998 (producer and liner notes) *

Josh White Joshua Daniel White (February 11, 1914 – September 5, 1969) was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and civil rights activist. He also recorded under the names Pinewood Tom and Tippy Barton in the 1930s. White grew up in the Sou ...

. ''Free and Equal Blues.'' Smithsonian /Folkways, 1998 (compiler) *

. ''Hard Traveling: The Asch Recordings Vol. 3.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 1998 (co-producer and liner notes) *

. ''Buffalo Skinners: The Asch Recordings Vol. 4.''. Smithsonian Folkways, 1999 (co-producer and liner notes) * Various Artists.''The Harry Smith Connection: A Live Tribute to the Anthology of American Folk Music.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 1998 (co-producer and liner notes) *

. ''Lead Belly Sings for Children.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 1999. (reissue compiler and liner notes) *

. ''The Asch Recordings'' (4 CD boxed set). Smithsonian Folkways, 1999. (co-producer and liner notes) *

Big Bill Broonzy Big Bill Broonzy (born Lee Conley Bradley; June 26, 1893 or 1903August 14, 1958) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His career began in the 1920s, when he played country music to mostly African-American audiences. In the 19 ...

. ''Trouble in Mind.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2000 (producer and liner notes) * Various Artists. ''The Best of Broadside'' (5-CD box set). Smithsonian Folkways, 2000. (co-producer and co-author of 160-page book) * ''Fast Folk: A Community of Singers and Songwriters.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2002 (co-producer and liner notes) * ''Classic Bluegrass on Smithsonian Folkways.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2002 (co-producer and liner notes) *

Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and social activist. He was a fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s and had a string of hit records in the early 1950s as a member of The Weav ...

. ''America's Favorite Ballads, vol. 1.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2002 (co-producer and liner notes) *

. ''America's Favorite Ballads, vol. 2.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2003 (co-producer and liner notes) * ''Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian Folkways.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2002 (producer and liner notes) * ''Classic Old-Time Music from Smithsonian Folkways.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2003 (producer and liner notes) * ''Spain in My Heart: Songs of the Spanish Civil War.'' Appleseed, 2003 (liner notes) * ''Classic Maritime Music from Smithsonian Folkways.''

, 2004 (producer and liner notes) * ''Classic Folk from Smithsonian Folkways.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2004 (producer and liner notes) *

. ''America's Favorite Ballads, Vol. 3.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2004 (co-producer and liner notes) * ''Classic Bluegrass from Smithsonian Folkways, Vol. 2.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2005 (co-producer and liner notes) * ''Folkways: The Original Vision, revised edition.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2005 (co-producer and liner notes) * ''Classic Railroad Songs from Smithsonian Folkways.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2006 (producer and liner notes) * ''Classic Labor Songs from Smithsonian Folkways.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2006 (co-producer and liner notes) * ''Down Home Saturday Night.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2006 (co-producer and liner notes) *

. ''America's Favorite Ballads, Vol. 4.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2006 (co-producer and liner notes) * ''Harry Smith Project, Live'' (boxed set).

Shout Factory Shout! Factory, LLC, doing business as Shout! Studios (formerly doing business as Shout! Factory, its current legal name), is an American home video and music distributor founded in 2002 as Retropolis Entertainment. Its video releases, issued i ...

, 2006 (liner notes) * ''Classic Old-Time Fiddle from Smithsonian Folkways.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2007 (co-producer and liner notes) * ''If You Ain’t Got the Do-Re-Mi: Songs of Rags and Riches.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2007 (Co-producer and liner notes) *

. ''America's Favorite Ballads, Vol. 5.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2007 (co-producer and liner notes) *

. ''America's Favorite Ballads'' (boxed set). Smithsonian Folkways, 2009 (co-producer and liner notes) * ''Classic Piano Blues from Smithsonian Folkways.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2008 (co-producer and liner notes) * ''Classic Protest Songs from Smithsonian Folkways.'' Smithsonian Folkways 2009 (co-producer and liner notes) * John Jackson''. Rappahannock Blues.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2009 (co-producer and liner notes) *

. ''Live at Bowdoin College.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2012 (producer and liner notes) * ''Classic American Ballads from Smithsonian Folkways''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2015 (producer and liner notes) * ''Classic Appalachian Blues from Smithsonian Folkways.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2009 (co-producer and liner notes) *

Ola Belle Reed Ola Belle Reed (August 18, 1916 – August 16, 2002) was an American Appalachian folk singer, songwriter and banjo player. Early life Reed was born Ola Wave Campbell in the unincorporated town of Grassy Creek, Ashe County, North Carolina. Sh ...

and family. ''Rising Sun Melodies''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2010 (producer and liner notes) *

Chip Taylor Chip Taylor (born James Wesley Voight; March 21, 1940) is an American songwriter and singer noted for writing " Angel of the Morning" and " Wild Thing". He is the paternal uncle of actress Angelina Jolie and former actor James Haven. He is the ...

. ''Golden Kids Rules''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2011 (liner notes) * ''Classic Harmonica Blues.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2012 (co-producer and liner notes) *

. '' Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2012 (Co-author of companion book and producer) * ''Classic African-American Songsters''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2014 (co-producer and liner notes) * Dave Van Ronk. ''Down in Washington Square: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2013 (producer and annotator) * ''Classic Banjo from Smithsonian Folkways.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2013 (co-producer and liner notes) *

. '' Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2014 (co-producer and author of companion book) * ''Classic American Ballads''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2015 (producer and liner notes) *

. ''Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Centennial Collection''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2019 (co-producer and author of companion book) * ''Classic Folk Songs for Children''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2015 (producer and liner notes) * ''Classic English and Scottish Ballads from the Frances James Child Collection''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2017 (producer and liner notes) *

. ''Roll Columbia: Woody Guthrie's 26 Northwest Songs.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2017 (liner notes) *

Dan Zanes Daniel Edgerly Zanes (born November 8, 1961) is an American rock, folk, and children's musician. He was a member of the 1980s band the Del Fuegos, the frontman of the group Dan Zanes and Friends, and currently performs with his wife, Claudia El ...

and friends. ''Lead Belly, Baby!'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2017 (liner notes) *

Barbara Dane Barbara Jean Spillman (May 12, 1927 – October 20, 2024), known professionally as Barbara Dane, was an American folk, blues, and jazz singer, guitarist, record producer, and political activist. She co-founded Paredon Records with Irwin Silbe ...

. ''Hot Jazz, Cool Blues, and Hard-Hitting Songs''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2017 (co-producer and liner notes) * ''Epilogue: A Tribute to John Duffey''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2018 (liner notes) * Pete Seeger. ''Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Centennial Collection'' (book and six-CD box set). Smithsonian Folkways, 2019 (co-producer and author) * ''Jazz Fest: The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival'' (5-CD set and book). Smithsonian Folkways, 2019. (co-author and producer) * ''The Social Power of Music'' (4-CD set and book). Smithsonian Folkways, 2019 (co-author and producer) * ''A Living Tradition: A Selection from Folk-Legacy Records''. Smithsonian Folkways, 2019 (liner notes) * ''Take Me Back to the Range: Selections from the Western Jubilee Recording Company.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2020 (liner notes) * ''The Village Out West: The Lost Tapes of Alan Oakes.'' Smithsonian Folkways, 2021 (co-producer and liner notes * ''Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack McCormick, 1958-1971''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Place, Jeff 1956 births Living people Kenyon College alumni University of Maryland, College Park alumni Smithsonian Institution people American producers 21st-century American musicologists American curators American archivists 20th-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century American non-fiction writers