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Ted Olson

Ted Olson

The Conversation

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The 1964 box set that predicted Dylan going electric — and still explains American music today

Elektra Records founder Jac Holzman's 83-track "Folk Box" traced a line from colonial ballads to protest songs.

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Fortune

Ted Olson

How a box set from 1964 attempted to capture the sweep of American music from the colonial era to the counterculture

How a box set from 1964 attempted to capture the sweep of American music from the colonial era to the counterculture

‘The Folk Box’ sought to trace the roots and branches of American music, and document the forging – and constant reinvention – of the national...

02.07.2026 1

The Conversation

Ted Olson

‘Which Side Are You On?’: American protest songs have emboldened social movements for generations, from coal country to Minneapolis

Bruce Springsteen wrote and recorded ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ within days of Alex Pretti’s killing, continuing a long tradition of songs as...

10.02.2026 10

The Conversation

Ted Olson

‘Monkey Biz-ness ’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since

Pop culture about the ‘trial of the century’ reflected broader cultural rifts.

24.06.2025 10

The Conversation

Ted Olson