The Womenfolk formed in the early 1960s with Margie Pepper, Sue Alman, Judy Henske, and Alice Gerrard. They played traditional folk, bluegrass, and gospel, and their debut album 'Ramblin'' came out in 1963. That record included their version of 'Good Old Mountain Dew,' a fiddle tune that became widely known.
As an all-female group in a folk scene dominated by men, they sometimes faced dismissive attitudes and were booked as openers more than headliners. They also spoke about social issues like the Vietnam War and women's rights, which drew criticism from some listeners.
They kept recording through the 1960s, with albums like 'We've Got a Lot of Livin' To Do' and 'The Womenfolk at the Newport Folk Festival.' The band broke up in 1970, but 'Good Old Mountain Dew' stayed in circulation at folk festivals and on college radio.
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