A. Rosalie David, Rosalie David

Rosalie Sorrels was an American folk singer-songwriter and collector of traditional songs whose career spanned six decades. Born Rosalie Ann Stringfellow in Boise, Idaho, she developed an early love for words and music, influenced by her family's literary and journalistic background. Her personal experiences, including difficult choices regarding pregnancy and adoption, profoundly shaped her poetry and songwriting. Sorrels began her public career in the late 1950s, collecting and performing folk songs, often with her husband Jim. By the early 1960s, she embarked on a nomadic life, traveling across the United States with her five children, performing at festivals and clubs, and building a network within the folk and beat scenes.

Her work encompassed social activism, storytelling, teaching, and recording. Sorrels released over 20 albums, including a Grammy-nominated one, and authored books. She received numerous accolades for her contributions to folk music and storytelling, including the Kate Wolf Award and the National Storytelling Network Circle of Excellence Award. Throughout her career, she collaborated with prominent folk musicians and writers. Sorrels retired in her later years, passing away in 2017, leaving a legacy as a significant figure in American folk culture, particularly in Idaho.

Rosalie Sorrels, born Rosalie Ann Stringfellow, came from a family that deeply valued the written and spoken word. Her parents, Walter Pendleton Stringfellow and Nancy Ann Kelly, fostered a love of reading and learning, a tradition continued by her grandparents. Her paternal grandparents, Robert Stanton Stringfellow and Rosalie Cope, were involved in missionary work and journalism, respectively, with her grandmother also being a photographer. This environment, combined with summers spent outdoors on her family's property, contributed to her early appreciation for nature and storytelling. Her maternal grandparents, James Madison Kelly and Arabel Beaire, were farmers. Sorrels's mother noted her daughter's ability to find profound meaning in poetry, likening it to cherishing a precious jewel. This familial emphasis on language and expression laid the groundwork for Sorrels's own creative path, which extended from personal journaling and poetry to songwriting.

Rosalie Stringfellow's early life in Boise, Idaho, was marked by significant personal experiences that would later inform her art. During her high school years, she participated in theatrical productions and experienced a pregnancy that led to an illegal abortion, an event that influenced her writing. Later, due to a rape, she again became pregnant and chose to give her child up for adoption. These profound life events, though challenging, contributed to the depth and emotional resonance of her later music and poetry. Although she had earned a scholarship to the University of Idaho, these circumstances prevented her from attending college immediately. She returned to Boise after her child's birth, continuing her involvement in local theater and social life, supported by her understanding parents.

Rosalie Sorrels began her professional career in the late 1950s, initially focused on collecting and performing traditional folk songs, often alongside her husband, Jim. Her association with Folklore Productions in 1963 marked the beginning of a long and prolific period. She gained wider recognition after performing at the 1966 Newport Folk Festival and released her first album featuring original songs in 1967. Sorrels traveled extensively across the United States with her five children, performing at folk festivals, clubs, and venues like Caffè Lena. Her career was characterized by a blend of social activism, storytelling, teaching, and recording, spanning over six decades. She was known for her ability to captivate audiences with her narratives and was considered a significant voice in the American folk music scene, with a particular connection to her native Idaho.

Throughout her extensive career, Rosalie Sorrels received numerous honors recognizing her contributions to folk music and storytelling. She recorded more than 20 albums, including "My Last Go 'Round," which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2005 for Best Traditional Folk Album. Her accolades include the World Folk Music Association's Kate Wolf Award in 1990 and the National Storytelling Network Circle of Excellence Award in 1999 for her dedication to the art of storytelling. She was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Idaho in 2000 and the Boise Peace Quilt Award in 2001. Sorrels frequently collaborated with other notable folk artists, such as Utah Phillips, Dave Van Ronk, Peggy Seeger, and Pete Seeger, and her albums featured introductory notes from writers like Hunter S. Thompson and Studs Terkel. She was particularly influenced by Malvina Reynolds, whose songs she recorded and who helped her channel her rebellious spirit into her art.

“She finds something ... in a piece of poetry ... that shines out like a precious jewel, and you can see her cupping her hands and holding it. We all have a streak of that ... We are delighted with words. We're drunk with words.”

“When my wandering soul shall rest, and my last song gets sung, I'll find the brightest and the best; On my way back home, all my long lost friends and lovers, once again they will be found; And I'll kiss all their shining faces on my last go round.”

“The legendary folksinger also was known for her ability to spin a yarn and hold an audience in the palm of her hand.”