music history

13 O’Clock Episode 503: Disappearing Folk Singer Connie Converse

/ Jenny Ashford / Leave a comment

Connie Converse, born Elizabeth Eaton Converse in 1924 in New Hampshire, was a pioneering American singer-songwriter who created intimate, literate folk and art songs in 1950s New York City years before the commercial singer-songwriter era. A gifted polymath who dropped out of Mount Holyoke College to pursue writing and music, she recorded dozens of original compositions on reel-to-reel tape—wry, harmonically sophisticated tracks like “How Sad, How Lovely,” “Talkin’ Like You (Two Tall Mountains),” and “Roving Woman”—that blended folk, blues, jazz, and classical influences. Despite a brief 1954 television appearance on Walter Cronkite’s show and salon performances, she found no commercial success and quit music in 1961, relocating to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she worked as an editor for the Journal of Conflict Resolution and became a dedicated social justice activist focused on conflict resolution and anti-racism. Struggling with depression, health issues, and professional setbacks, she turned 50 on August 3, 1974, and one week later drove away in her green Volkswagen Beetle after mailing farewell letters to family and friends stating she was starting a new life elsewhere and did not want to be found. Neither she nor her car was ever seen again, leaving her disappearance one of music’s great unsolved mysteries. Her work was rediscovered in the 2000s through preserved home recordings, leading to the 2009 album How Sad, How Lovely, widespread acclaim as a precursor to artists like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, and a growing cult following that continues to celebrate her timeless voice and enigmatic legacy.

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THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS! The show is made possible by: Allison, Amanda, Amanda O., Amber, Ambition Writing, Amy H., Anthony, Antonio, Arezo, Arif, Armand, Ashley, Austin, Ben, BlackMarigold, Blake, Brad, Brandon, Brian, Bryce, Bunjip, Bunny, Cady, Calexico Mom, Cami, Chris, Christopher, Ciarra, Cody, Corinthian, creepy crepes, D. Newton, Dae, Damian, Dan, Darkskull, Darren, Dave B., David P., Dean, Denise, Dermot, Dominic, Duncan, Dwayne, Ed, Elizabeth, Elliot, Eric, Erin, Esther, Fade, Feeky, Gareth, Geare, Ginger, Gramthars Hammer, Greg, Gwen, Gwendoline, Hanna, Hayden, Heather, HoboNasty, Holly, Hugo, Iain, Ilse, Ima Shrew, Jaime, Jake A., Jake S., James, James H., Jamin, Jana & Scott, Janet, Jason, Jason W., Jeanette, Jen, Jessica, Jesus, Jill, Joanie, Jocifer, Joe, John A. Brown, John H., John M., Jon R., Jonathan, Jonathan H., Joseph, Juli, Juliana, Justin, Justyn, Karin, Kat, Katrina, Keith, Kelley G., Ken, Kieron, Klaus, Knothead Studios, Kool Kitty, Lana, Lars, Leander, Liam, Lindsey, Logan, Lonna, Lynx_13, Macy, Marcus, Mark, Mary Ellen, Master of Dungeons, Matt, Matthew, Maximillian, Melanie, Melissa, Melissa G., Michael, Miguel, Mike, Misty, Mother of Beasts, Natalia, Nathalie, Nicodemus, Nilay, Noah, Oddcatt, Oli, out_running_erins, Paul, Poppa77 Morrison, Rabbit, Rachel, Rebecca, Rebecca L., Rebecca M., Richard J., Richard & Sheena, Rik, Rob, Robina, Ryan, Samantha, Sandra, Saul, Scarlett, Scott, Sean, seven lines, Shaebie, Shae-Nicole, Sheena, Sophie, Stephanie, Steven Vincent, Stop Prop, Sydney, Tabitha, Tammie, Tanja, Tara, Terrie, TheMysteryGamer, Thomas, Thomm, Tiffany, Timothy, Tina, Travon, Trevor, Trey, Tyran, Valtrina, Vashti, Veronica, Via, Victor, Victoria, Victoria E., Virginia, Weaponsandstuff93, Will S., and Xánada.

Channel art and audio & video editing by Jenny Ashford. Music & sound effects courtesy of freesound.org users jamespotterboy, corsica-s, enjoypa, capturedlv, luffy, kiddpark, and justkiddink. Video clips courtesy of Videezy & Videvo.

13 O’Clock Episode 417: No Future – A Brief, Chaotic History of Punk Rock

/ Jenny Ashford / Leave a comment

Punk rock emerged in the mid-1970s as a reaction against the perceived excesses of mainstream rock music. Rooted in the garage rock and proto-punk movements of the 1960s, it was characterized by fast tempos, short songs, and a raw, stripped-down sound. The genre’s DIY ethic was also a key element, with many bands self-producing their music and performing in small venues. In the U.S., bands like The Ramones in New York and The Stooges in Detroit were pioneers of the style. Meanwhile, in the UK, punk rock became a cultural movement, with bands like the Sex Pistols and The Clash leading the charge. The British punk scene was not just about music; it also had a significant impact on fashion, politics, and youth culture. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, punk rock had splintered into various subgenres, including hardcore punk in the U.S., with bands like Black Flag and Minor Threat. Although it never dominated the mainstream, punk’s influence can still be felt in music, fashion, and culture today.

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Please support us on Patreon! Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Also check out Jenny’s horror channel, The Scare Salon, and her true crime channel, Crime Immemorial. Check out Fright On Cue, a cool horror writing journal with image and text prompts.

Please try out TubeBuddy!

And check out our cool merch at our Zazzle store, and some board and card games designed by Jenny at Giallo Games!

Visit Jenny’s Amazon author page! And check out our awesome cookbook!

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS! The show is made possible by: Allison, Amanda, Amanda O., Ambition Writing, Amy H., Anthony, Antonio, Arezo, Arif, Ashley, Austin, Ben, BlackMarigold, Blake, Brad, Brandon, Brian, Bryce, Bunjip, Bunny, Cady, Calexico Mom, Cami, Chris, Christopher, Ciarra, Cody, Corinthian, creepy crepes, D. Newton, Dae, Damian, Dan, Darkskull, Darren, Dave B., David P., Dean, Denise, Dermot, Dominic, Duncan, Dwayne, Ed, Elizabeth, Elliot, Eric, Erin, Esther, Fade, Feeky, Gareth, Ginger, Gramthars Hammer, Greg, Gwen, Gwendoline, Hanna, Hayden, Heather, HoboNasty, Holly, Hugo, Iain, Ilse, Ima Shrew, Jaime, Jake A., Jake S., James, James H., Jamin, Jana & Scott, Janet, Jason, Jason W., Jeanette, Jen, Jessica, Jesus, Jill, Joanie, Jocifer, Joe, John H., John M., Jon R., Jonathan, Jonathan H., Joseph, Juli, Juliana, Justin, Justyn, Karin, Kat, Katrina, Keith, Kelley G., Ken, Kieron, Knothead Studios, Kool Kitty, Lana, Lars, Leander, Liam, Lindsey, Logan, Lonna, Lynx_13, Macy, Marcus, Mark, Mary Ellen, Master of Dungeons, Matt, Matthew, Maximillian, Melanie, Melissa, Melissa G., Michael, Miguel, Mike, Mother of Beasts, Natalia, Nathalie, Nicodemus, Nilay, Noah, Oddcatt, Oli, out_running_erins, Paul, Rachel, Rebecca, Rebecca L., Rebecca M., Richard J., Richard & Sheena, Rik, Rob, Robina, Ryan, Samantha, Sandra, Saul, Scarlett, Scott, Sean, seven lines, Shae-Nicole, Sheena, Sophie, Stephanie, Steven Vincent, Stop Prop, Sydney, Tabitha, Tammie, Tara, Terrie, TheMysteryGamer, Thomas, Thomm, Tiffany, Timothy, Tina, Travon, Trevor, Trey, Tyran, Valtrina, Vashti, Veronica, Via, Victor, Victoria, Victoria E., Virginia, Weaponsandstuff93, Will S., and Xánada.

Channel art and audio & video editing by Jenny Ashford. Music & sound effects courtesy of freesound.org users jamespotterboy, corsica-s, enjoypa, capturedlv, luffy, kiddpark, and justkiddink. Video clips courtesy of Videezy & Videvo.