{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Refolkus","title":"The Estelle Klein Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient with Chris White","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1918,"description":"In this episode, we sit down with Chris White, recipient of the 2026 Estelle Klein Lifetime Achievement Award.\nChris takes us through his lifelong journey in folk music, from growing up in a musical family and discovering the power of community singing to co-founding the Ottawa Folk Festival and helping create opportunities for artists through Home Routes. We talk about his work in radio with Canadian Spaces, the importance of festivals as spaces for connection and participation, and his ongoing work bringing people together through music.\nOn behalf of Folk Canada, congratulations to Chris White on this well deserved award!\nConnect with Chris on Facebook and find his music on Bandcamp.\nAbout Chris White\nBased in Ottawa, Chris White was born in Toronto into a musical family with Nova Scotian roots that combine Black, White and Indigenous heritage. As a child, he sang in a sibling vocal quartet and participated in a neighbourhood choir led by his father. His mother played the piano and was a major fan of Canadian folk songs. A songwriter and guitar player, Chris has released three albums of original songs that are sometimes humorous and sometimes touching. He is known for his engaging stage presence and his ability to get audiences to sing along enthusiastically!\n\nHe is a member of a musical collective called the Afro-Métis Nation, and also performs with his banjo-playing wife, Mary Gick. Chris's contributions to the folk music community extend to musical event planning and organizing. He revived the Writer's Bloc songwriting group in 1989, and brought Karen Leslie Hall's Song-Along songwriting challenge to the Ottawa area in 1994. He co-founded the Ottawa Folk Festival in 1993 and served as its artistic director for 16 years, placing an ever-increasing emphasis on participatory experiences such as weekend choirs, ukulele-building workshops, dance tents and collaborative murals. Chris has helped to create many other community-oriented festivals and events over the...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/hglTEtE6-69Pd9nI-g8uHGmTKVB-QwYPFVNH_5ExHDk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS81NDBj/NjYxNzE0OTQyYWU2/MTFiZWYyNzNmMGEx/OWZlMi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}