The 198 String Band
The 198 String Band has a vast repertoire of old time music and folk songs. Interspersed with this roots music are some blues, rags and novelty numbers. A 198 String Band concert is an upbeat and enjoyable experience. All three members are music collectors and are as interested in the origin of the music they play as much as the songs themselves. They accompany themselves on guitar, fiddle, autoharp and banjo.
Programs of The 198 String Band
…Whose Names Are Unknown: Words, Images, & Songs from the Great Depression is a multimedia presentation that engages the audience through sight, sound and thought provoking imagery to appreciate the devastating American experience of the Great Depression and the stimulating national recovery policies of the New Deal. The sixty-minute program consists of live interpretive narration setting the historical context of social and economic occurrences, illustrated by large screen projection of compelling archival Depression-era photographs, punctuated by live performances of folk songs of the era.
There are two separate programs available: “Roosevelt and the New Deal” and “The Dust Bowl and the Great California Migration.”
Members of The 198 String Band
Tom Naples, producer, musician and songwriter. Tom has researched the background and has created all the musical arrangements for “….Whose Names Are Unknown.” He plays guitar and banjo and provides vocals in the multimedia presentation and on the musical CD of the same title.
Michael Frisch, musician, vocalist, and historical consultant. Mike is Professor of History and American Studies, and Senior Research Scholar at SUNY Buffalo. He is an enthusiastic practitioner of old-time music. He plays fiddles and provides vocals in this performance and on the musical CD.
Margaret Milliron, musician, vocalist and researcher. Peggy is a music educator who has been performing in schools, libraries, camps, and at festivals for over ten years. An avid amateur photographer, she has also done the photo research for this presentation, and partnered in the editing process. She is also a prominent performer on the musical CD.
Listen to the 198 String Band and browse photos of one of their programs: