As we prepare for the High Holy Days, we reflect on tradition and prayer and the voices that have carried these sacred melodies through time. Among them stands one of the greatest cantorial legends of all time — Cantor Gershon-Yitskhok Leibovich Sirota (1874–1943).

Often called the “Jewish Caruso,” Sirota’s rich tenor voice helped define the Golden Age of Khazzanut (cantorial music). He began his career in Odessa, later serving eight years as cantor of the Shtatshul (State Synagogue) in Vilna, where he began a lifelong collaboration with choirmaster Leo Lowe. In 1907, he became the cantor of the prestigious Tłomackie Street Synagogue in Warsaw, a role that solidified his reputation as one of Europe’s greatest liturgical artists. Read More About This…

As the days grow longer and the scent of barbecue fills the air, summer settles in—and with it comes a soundtrack that stirs nostalgia and national pride. At the Recorded Sound Archives at FAU, our vintage recordings tell the story of American summers past: patriotic marches, carefree swing tunes, and songs that once drifted from radios on porches and park benches across the country.

Following our Memorial Day Tribute, we invite you to take a deeper dive into the sounds that shaped American summers between the 1920s and 1950s. This curated collection celebrates everything from sunny strolls to star-spangled joyrides. Whether you’re planning a backyard cookout or simply daydreaming of summers gone by, let these voices and melodies carry you back in time. Read More About This…

When you think of “pop music,” you might imagine slick beats and catchy hooks. But rewind a century, and “pop” meant something quite different. In the 1920s and 1930s, popular music was the heartbeat of family living rooms, broadcast radios, and record players spinning 78rpm discs.

This Father’s Day, we invite you to step into a musical time machine with the Recorded Sound Archives and celebrate the vintage voices that defined what “dad music” sounded like back then—whether it was crooning love songs, swinging jazz, or toe-tapping novelty tunes. Read More About This…

On this World Environment Day, we turn the dial back to a time when voices of nature were heard and performed—live, on stage, and even on shellac. Meet Charles Kellogg, a naturalist, performer, and early environmental advocate who used his voice—literally—to raise awareness for the preservation of America’s great redwood forests.

Born in 1868 in the Sierra Nevada of California, Charles Kellogg grew up surrounded by the sights and sounds of wilderness. But he wasn’t just a lover of the outdoors—he was a living echo of it. Gifted with a vocal range unlike any other, Kellogg became famous for his astonishing ability to mimic birdsong and forest sounds with uncanny accuracy. His performances earned him the nickname “The Forest Singer.” Read More About This…

As we approach Memorial Day, we reflect on the power of music to bring people together, lift spirits, and inspire a sense of unity. The Recorded Sound Archives is home to a treasure trove of patriotic recordings pressed onto fragile 78rpm shellac discs—reminders of how music once echoed through living rooms, barracks, and dance halls during America’s most trying times.

These vintage recordings aren’t just music—they’re sonic time capsules that capture the resilience, pride, and hope of generations past. Read More About This…