Ethnic Music for the 4th of July

The 4th of July, the most American of holidays, isn't necessarily one that is associated with world music. However, I think that Independence Day is a great day to celebrate some of the unique ethnic music traditions that have sprung from American soil. Many of these folk traditions are the result of multiple cultural influences - that great melting pot that makes our nation of immigrants so extraordinary. Here are some of my favorite America-born ethnic musical styles:

• Polka - Czech-American dance music
• Slack-Key Guitar - Mexican rancheros meet Hawai'ian native songs
• Cajun and Zydeco - French music from the Cajuns and Black Creoles of Southwest Louisiana
• Old-Time - British and Scots-Irish folk ballads with African rhythms