Gold. The shout was heard around the world, followed closely by perilous journey and often death. Off to California, based in the Sacramento valley and Sierra foothills where gold was discovered in 1848, takes you on a journey of musical emigration.

15 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Traditional Folk, COUNTRY: Country Folk



Details:
We have been performing music of the California gold rush together for about 15 years. In 1996 we were fortunate to be able to provide songs for the gold rush segment called âThe Speck of the Futureâ in the eight-part series The West, produced by Ken Burns and aired on PBS. We are also included on its soundtrack CD.

In 1998 we appeared in a frequently repeated episode of Huell Howserâs Californiaâs Gold series called âColoma,â about the gold country village where gold was discovered in 1848. We were also pleased to be selected to perform at the 1998 Sesquicentennial Celebration of the California Gold Rush in Coloma.

In 2006 we had the opportunity to provide music for the soundtrack of a documentary about the Sacramento cholera epidemic of 1850 and the role of early Californiaâs heroic physicians, which expanded into this recording. Here we have combined the themes of voyage to the gold country and excitement about the prospects of a bright future with the disillusionment, sickness and despair that most inevitably encountered. We also tried to give a taste of the melting pot of cultures, drawn to the promise of California. Some things never change!

Andy, Dorothy & Alan
OFF TO CALIFORNIA

Andy Alexis: lead and harmony vocals, clawhammer banjo, fretless banjo, guitar

Alan Beilharz Fuller: lead and harmony vocals, guitar, flamenco guitar

Dorothy A. Hawkinson: lead and harmony vocals, fiddle, hardingfele (Norwegian Hardanger fiddle)