What Do Janet Reno and Singer/Songwriter Kathy Mattea Have in Common?

Janet Reno is nearly 70 years old; Kathy Mattea is not yet 49. Reno was born and raised in Florida; Mattea in West Virginia. Reno has a law degree from Harvard; Mattea dropped out of college. Reno was the first woman Attorney General of the United States, appointed in 1997 by then President Clinton. Mattea is a singer and song writer, plays the guitar and is known for her folk, bluegrass and country music. So what could these two women possibly have in common?

Both are social activists of sorts, but more significantly, both are music affectionados who've been invited to attend the upcoming 20th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference.

Folk Alliance is a membership organization for people with an interest in folk music, including performing artists like Mattea and music historians like Reno, as well as managers, agents, record companies, to name a few. Founded in 1989, it currently boasts a worldwide membership of nearly 2,500. The mission statement of Folk Alliance says the community's purpose is to "foster and promote traditional, contemporary and multicultural folk music, dance and related performing arts in North America."

Several countries, every state and many counties have a Folk Alliance, which provides a way for musicians, artists and performers to gain both local and national exposure and hook up with those interested in their type of music. Folk Alliances hold regular meetings at the local level throughout the year, usually commencing with the annual conference. The 2008 conference will be held Feb. 20-24 in Memphis, Tenn.

Reno is slated to be one of the keynote speakers and was chosen because of her initiative in the production of a nine-year project that recently resulted in the compilation of several old-time American songs into a recorded package entitled Song of America. Included are old familiars performed by today's artists. Among the 50 songs in the 3-CD package are familiars "Yankee Doodle," "Go Down Moses," "Battle Hymn of the Republic, "The Times They are A-Changin," "Battle Humn of the Republic" and "Home on the Range." The proceeds from Song of America will benefit not only Folk Alliance, but also the Center for American Music and National History Day.

In describing her interest and role in the project, Reno is quoted as saying: "The historical detail of the songs fascinated me and I suggested that Ed (producer Ed Pettersen) record a whole album of songs focusing on key periods in American history, in order to tell our story to young people who might find joy in learning history through music."

Mattea is not one of the artists performing on Song of America, but she well could be. Although she is currently known for bluegrass and mainstream country, her music has traditionally been more along the lines of folk. Her newest album is a case in point. Her grandfathers were coal miners in West Virginia, and her newest album, Coal, will be released in April 2008. The album is composed of coal mining songs, with stories that span some 50 years. As a social activist, Mattea is concerned about global warming and the environmental and physical devastation caused by coal mining. In addition to her music, Mattea also travels across the country speaking about global warming and environmental concerns.

Whether Reno and Mattea will actually cross paths at the upcoming International Folk Alliance Conference, I don't know. But, the common denominator that brings them together is interesting and compelling.

Resources:

Folk Alliance; http://www.folkalliance.org/

Song of America, http://www.srrecords.com/SongofAmerica/index.html

Kathy Mattea Biography; http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608003284/Kathy-Mattea.html