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Singing Family of the Cumberlands
The "singing family" of which Jean Ritchie writes is that of her parents, Balis and Abigail Ritchie, and their fourteen children, all born and reared in Viper, Kentucky, deep in the Cumberland Mountains. Jean, the youngest of the clan, grew up to be a world renowned folksinger. But she was hardly unique in the family. All the Ritchies sang―when they worked, when they prayed, when they rejoiced, even when tragedy struck.
Singing Family of the Cumberlands is both an appealing account of family life and a treasury of American folklore and folksong. In the deceptively simple but picturesque language of rural Kentucky, Jean Ritchie tells of a way of life now nearly vanished and of a gentle, upright people shielded from the outside world by forbidding mountain ranges, preserving the traditions of their forebears.
Foremost among those traditions were the British folksongs brought from England by James Ritchie in 1768. Even in a region noted for its wealth of folksongs, the Ritchies' inheritance was exceptional. Forty-two of the family's beloved songs are woven through Jean Ritchie's narrative, complete with words and often musical scores. Each song evokes a memory for Jean―hoeing corn, stirring off molasses, telling ghost stories, singing a dying baby to its eternal rest. Songs lightened the burden of poverty for the Ritchies and brought them joy and solace.
Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, Singing Family of the Cumberlands will delight readers in all walks of life.
Singing Family of the Cumberlands is both an appealing account of family life and a treasury of American folklore and folksong. In the deceptively simple but picturesque language of rural Kentucky, Jean Ritchie tells of a way of life now nearly vanished and of a gentle, upright people shielded from the outside world by forbidding mountain ranges, preserving the traditions of their forebears.
Foremost among those traditions were the British folksongs brought from England by James Ritchie in 1768. Even in a region noted for its wealth of folksongs, the Ritchies' inheritance was exceptional. Forty-two of the family's beloved songs are woven through Jean Ritchie's narrative, complete with words and often musical scores. Each song evokes a memory for Jean―hoeing corn, stirring off molasses, telling ghost stories, singing a dying baby to its eternal rest. Songs lightened the burden of poverty for the Ritchies and brought them joy and solace.
Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, Singing Family of the Cumberlands will delight readers in all walks of life.
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 21, 2019
I am drawn to books about Appalachia and have been since I was a teenager. I tend to have romatic notions about living in the mountains, living their life, even though now know better.
Just about two summers ago my friend, who grew up in the Cumberlands, took me to her family reunion here in Tahlequah. I was in heaven, but I admit, it was the delicious pie that I liked best. She wanted to see a relative, an old man, and said that when he died, she would never go to another reunion. The people were wonderful, again, I know, I just wanted to think so. . “Yes,” she said of them, just as long as they don’t talk religion.” This year my friend passed away before the old man whom she loved.
So I found this book on the Library of Congress websute, along with 156 or so other books on Appalachia that I downloaded.
A family that sings. Well, at first I thought, if this is about Loretta Lynn or Dolly, I am not interested. I am not into biographies about famous people.
Instead, it was about a family who sat out on their porch and sang songs, many of which I had never heard. Some of which I have always loved. And they had a Christmas dinner, and I thought of that pie that was served to me at Judith’s family reunion, and how much I would love to find out when they are having another reunion, and I would just slip inside and eat their food and visit. Get the recipe for that strange pie.
Not much happens in this book, or if it did I don’t recall. I just thought of how they all entertained themselves out on the porch in the summer because they didn’t have TV. And I felt that the book was sweet and not religious. And I also wished that I had been at their Christmas dinner. The list of food sounded wonderful.
And when I think of the old folks, I think of feather beds as well and how heavenly they are to sleep on. I think of close families and not The Glass Castle kind of families. I think of learning survival techniques like those in the Foxfire books, but I never think of killing chickens and hogs; instead I think of sweet potatoes, corn, russet potatoes, and dressing along with pies and cakes. I also think of visiting neighbors on the front porch and singing songs and telling ghost stories. I also think of my step grandfather’s fiddle and wish that I had it but it sits at my brother’s house in its case, being unused. And I think of my step grandmother and how she chewed snuff and how nasty it looked, but they were both good people. And maybe I should have learned more from them, but all I recall is that my Grandma Rose used to spit snuff out the school window when she was a kid and how when they came to California from Missouri they kept their old wooden chest that they carried their things in, and how my brother has that too, along with her butter churn. And I even gave him the quilt Granny Mack made and all because my little brother was my half brother and those were his real grandparents. And Grandma Rose used to make a great peach cobbler.
Just about two summers ago my friend, who grew up in the Cumberlands, took me to her family reunion here in Tahlequah. I was in heaven, but I admit, it was the delicious pie that I liked best. She wanted to see a relative, an old man, and said that when he died, she would never go to another reunion. The people were wonderful, again, I know, I just wanted to think so. . “Yes,” she said of them, just as long as they don’t talk religion.” This year my friend passed away before the old man whom she loved.
So I found this book on the Library of Congress websute, along with 156 or so other books on Appalachia that I downloaded.
A family that sings. Well, at first I thought, if this is about Loretta Lynn or Dolly, I am not interested. I am not into biographies about famous people.
Instead, it was about a family who sat out on their porch and sang songs, many of which I had never heard. Some of which I have always loved. And they had a Christmas dinner, and I thought of that pie that was served to me at Judith’s family reunion, and how much I would love to find out when they are having another reunion, and I would just slip inside and eat their food and visit. Get the recipe for that strange pie.
Not much happens in this book, or if it did I don’t recall. I just thought of how they all entertained themselves out on the porch in the summer because they didn’t have TV. And I felt that the book was sweet and not religious. And I also wished that I had been at their Christmas dinner. The list of food sounded wonderful.
And when I think of the old folks, I think of feather beds as well and how heavenly they are to sleep on. I think of close families and not The Glass Castle kind of families. I think of learning survival techniques like those in the Foxfire books, but I never think of killing chickens and hogs; instead I think of sweet potatoes, corn, russet potatoes, and dressing along with pies and cakes. I also think of visiting neighbors on the front porch and singing songs and telling ghost stories. I also think of my step grandfather’s fiddle and wish that I had it but it sits at my brother’s house in its case, being unused. And I think of my step grandmother and how she chewed snuff and how nasty it looked, but they were both good people. And maybe I should have learned more from them, but all I recall is that my Grandma Rose used to spit snuff out the school window when she was a kid and how when they came to California from Missouri they kept their old wooden chest that they carried their things in, and how my brother has that too, along with her butter churn. And I even gave him the quilt Granny Mack made and all because my little brother was my half brother and those were his real grandparents. And Grandma Rose used to make a great peach cobbler.
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February 6, 2017We're big fans of Jean Ritchie in our house -- the folk songs for children both preserved by her and written by her are in frequent rotation ("Pussy got the Measles", a Jean Ritchie original, is a big favorite). Her memoir of growing up the youngest of 13 children in a 2-room farmhouse in the Kentucky hills is a fascinating peek into an American experience I have very little idea of. And she's such a good writer! Her prose is warm and lively -- it's such a good book! As funny and sweet and charming as her songs, which is saying a lot.
July 15, 2011
I love this book! I re-read it every few years. It's a memoir by singer Jean Ritchie, about growing up in the Cumberland mountains of Kentucky. Jean was born in 1922, the youngest of 13 children, born in a house that her father built by hand. It's part Whole Earth Catalog, part Little House in the Big Woods, and it has the added bonus of containing many traditional songs that came down through her family. (Both of her parents were sought out by "song collectors" from Britain in the twenties and thirties.) My edition has illustrations by a young Maurice Sendak. I also had a little thrill when I opened it this time, to notice that I had gotten it autographed when Jean played a concert here ten or so years ago. (I'd forgotten that!) This is just a really special book, well worth reading if you care for folk music and/or memoirs. Have I mentioned that I love this book?
I also hadn't known before that Jean was born the same year as my mother. That makes her nearly 90, which means -- holy cow! -- my mother would also be nearly 90 were she still alive. Jean Ritchie is as much of an icon as Pete Seeger. We should revere these people as national treasures.
I also hadn't known before that Jean was born the same year as my mother. That makes her nearly 90, which means -- holy cow! -- my mother would also be nearly 90 were she still alive. Jean Ritchie is as much of an icon as Pete Seeger. We should revere these people as national treasures.
October 8, 2019
Jean Ritchie, the youngest of 14 children, grew up singing. She was a songcatcher before she was even old enough to know it. Her tale of growing up in Viper, KY, is full of songs and adventures and storytelling and hard work. No romance here, this was just life in the "holler". Her parents valued education and sent most of the children to college.
She died recently and I had to get this book - I have a recording of her reading some of the Christmas chapter, and she sounds so much like my grandmother (from West Virginia, but still) I cry every time.
Read it just for the tale of the first Christmas tree, which is her older sister's memory, and about caroling in the wee hours, if not the rest. Wonderful.
She died recently and I had to get this book - I have a recording of her reading some of the Christmas chapter, and she sounds so much like my grandmother (from West Virginia, but still) I cry every time.
Read it just for the tale of the first Christmas tree, which is her older sister's memory, and about caroling in the wee hours, if not the rest. Wonderful.
December 23, 2025
Big Jean Ritchie fan here. I'll admit I was hoping that this would have more about her adult life - her time at the Henry Settlement School in NYC, her trips to England and her experience as a song collector. That said, I loved reading about her family, the rhythm of the seasons, and the way music was part of their everyday life.
There are two disturbing stories in Singing Family - one is when she was beaten quite badly by her father and the other is about getting a brown-skinned doll for Christmas. Both stories grapple with a confusing array of emotions and feelings and I'd love to know what the adult Jean made of both incidents.
Also, someone should make a movie about her instead of that dumb old Bob Dylan.
There are two disturbing stories in Singing Family - one is when she was beaten quite badly by her father and the other is about getting a brown-skinned doll for Christmas. Both stories grapple with a confusing array of emotions and feelings and I'd love to know what the adult Jean made of both incidents.
Also, someone should make a movie about her instead of that dumb old Bob Dylan.
August 2, 2022
An important historical and musical contribution to American and Appalachian culture! What a treasure that Jean Ritchie wrote this memoir. Maurice Sendak's illustrations are sweet, and it's such a gift that all the songs mentioned are notated within the book.
The chronology is a bit disjointed, but Jean (unsurprisingly) has a gift with words and describing emotions and vignettes. At times it's joyful, at times heartbreaking, and there are a couple instances of both child abuse and racism to be aware of.
The chronology is a bit disjointed, but Jean (unsurprisingly) has a gift with words and describing emotions and vignettes. At times it's joyful, at times heartbreaking, and there are a couple instances of both child abuse and racism to be aware of.
January 22, 2020
Charming book about a major folk music figure. Ritchie's chapter on the events leading up to the death of her sister are among the most moving, heart-wrenching pieces of literature I have ever read.
December 29, 2023
A sweet and gentle look into the Kentucky childhood years of the legendary Jean Ritchie! LOTS of songs!
July 30, 2016
I got this book from cleaning out my grandma's house after her death. I didn't realize that Jean Ritchie is a famous folk singer before I read the summary on goodreads. I liked all the stories and the songs that were part of this book; I especially liked that the tune was included. It was interesting that by coincidence, I read this book at the same time that I read Winter's Bone. It was two very different views on the same people. (The Ozark people like those in Winter's Bone came west from Appalachia, where this book was set.)
April 8, 2010
One of the most beautiful autobiographies I've ever read, with bits I remember always--her mother saying, "You know you're in love with a man if you'd find it a privilege to wash his socks." It's all about growing up deep in the mountains of Appalachia in a tiny town called Viper.
May 8, 2013
I finished this book a couple of days ago and must say that it is a great read for anyone interested in folklore or folk music. The stories are good but what really makes the book are the many, many songs...
January 1, 2015
Beautiful autobiography about growing up in Appalachia. I wish there had been a companion CD.
October 3, 2015
It was good to read history on my Ritchie family from Kentucky. I really enjoyed the book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews