Pete Seeger’s “Rainbows Quest” TV show - filmed in black and white, ran for 39 episodes from 1965-66.

The show had an endearing homespun quality - no studio audience - just Pete Seeger interviewing and joining in with his music guests.

The guest list is astonishing, which included: Rev Gary Davis , Mississippi John Hurt,Buffy Sainte-Marie,Donovan , Judy Collins , Elizabeth Cotten - and a memorable 1965 show with a strung out and gaunt Johnny Cash-at the height of his pill addiction- accompanied by June Carter Cash.

One show featured the great Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie using archive film footage.

All in all a wonderful series and a peek into the folk , blues grass, blues of that time-as well as capturing performances from early blues pioneers.

Memorable incidents are the spilling of glasses of milk around the rustic kitchen table on set, during an episode with the Greenbriar Boys-if memory serves me well!

Various episodes are still available to watch online on YouTube.

It's fascinating to see the passing of the torch of the older blues and folk artists to the 1960’s folkies who were just starting out, and in turn created an enduring body of work.

Of equal note is the simple production of the show : no special effects or lighting - just a few guitars around a rustic kitchen table…and a glass of milk or two.

More info here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9qIJxGKLmx5JL1539atRfe3fme9L_o5H