Ralph Rinzler co-founded the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 1967 and a decade later parlayed it into what is now the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. An old-time music performer, traditional crafts savant, and social activist, he worked to support and make visible the genius of grassroots communities throughout the United States and around the globe. He believed deeply in equality among cultures and likened the Festival to a "declaration of cultural independence," a public platform on which each tradition might be honored, understood, and celebrated. A man of enormous vision, tireless creativity, and boundless energy, Rinzler put into place the "DNA" that infuses the Center's egalitarian philosophy, can-do spirit, and dedication to public impact.

The annual Ralph Rinzler Memorial Concert showcases and offers tribute to artists who, like Rinzler, have wielded major cultural influence. This year, we salute Smithsonian Folkways artist Ella Jenkins.