folk

He has left his mark on Latin music by introducing modern pop and rock sounds to traditional Colombian folk music.

“We mourn the passing of Ella Jenkins, one of the most iconic folk musicians of the 20th century, who revolutionized children’s music and inspired generations of listeners around the world,” the label said Sunday in a tweet.

She believed that songs from foreign languages and cultures used interesting rhythmic patterns that children like, and her use of folk melodies and sing-along activity songs aimed to teach children the art of communication through music.

She didn’t have any formal music training, instead drawing on what was around her growing up: gospel music and call-and-response folk traditions.

Her business partner Bernadelle Richter, who originally hired her to perform folk music at an American Youth Hostel folk weekend, handled the business side of her career.