Joe Hickerson | |
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| Born | Joseph Charles Hickerson (1935-10-20)October 20, 1935 Lake Forest, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | August 17, 2025(2025-08-17) (aged 89) Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1957–2016 |
| Children | 1 |
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| Instrument | Guitar |
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Joseph Charles Hickerson (October 20, 1935 – August 17, 2025), known professionally as Joe Hickerson, was an Americanfolk singer, song finder, and musicologist. He led theArchive of Folk Song at theLibrary of Congress from 1963 to 1998.
Hickerson was born inLake Forest, Illinois, on October 20, 1935, and grew up inNew Haven, Connecticut.[1][2] He graduated fromOberlin College with a B.S. in physics in 1957.[3] While at Oberlin, he performed folk music with a group called The Folksmiths.[1] He then became a graduate student atIndiana University Bloomington, studyingethnomusicology; he earned a master's degree and was studying for a doctorate before joining theLibrary of Congress.[1]
For 35 years (1963–1998), Hickerson was Librarian and Director of theArchive of Folk Song at theAmerican Folklife Center of theLibrary of Congress.[3] Hickerson was a lecturer, researcher, and performer, especially in New York, Michigan, and the Chicago area.[citation needed]
In 1958, with the Folksmiths, Hickerson participated in the first LP recording of "Kumbayah", having learned it fromTony Saletan.[4][5] In 1960, Hickerson added two verses to the original version of "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" created and recorded in 1958 byPete Seeger, establishing a circular form for the song that became a standard that many others recorded.[6][7] Along withDave Guard, Hickerson is credited with the creation, also in 1960, ofthe Kingston Trio's version of "Bonny Hielan' Laddie".[citation needed]
Hickerson was married and divorced twice, and had a son.[1] In later years, he was in a relationship with Ruth Bolliger,[8] and moved from the Washington, D.C. area, toPortland, Oregon, in 2013, to live closer to her.[1]
Hickerson died at a care home in Portland on August 17, 2025, at the age of 89.[1]
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