Harry Oster

Harry Oster ( born April 12, 1923 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, † January 19, 2001 in Iowa City, Iowa) was an American folklore researcher and university teacher whose concern was the preservation of traditional music and stories of the south of the USA.

Easter has published numerous articles on traditional music styles such as Cajun, folk and blues, as well as the standard works Living Country Blues (1969) and Dictionary of American Folklore ( 2000).

He founded in 1957 the record label Louisiana Folklore Society (1960 renamed Lyric Folk Records ), on which he preserved folk, blues and gospel pieces from oblivion. Among his most famous discoveries Robert Pete Williams, whose release from prison, he drove forward part.

Besides Easter initiated the annual Folk Festival Old Fiddlers Picnic and the Association of Friends of traditional music in Iowa (Iowa Friends of Old- Time Music ).

Harry Oster died in 2001 from cancer.