Ellis Island Era Immigration Music

Ellis Island Era Immigration Music

Wild Colonial Bhoys, Irish in America (2007)

The Wild Colonial Bhoys, a band whose sound could be described as modern folk rock, is comprised of two musicians, one American and the other Canadian. Together, the Bhoys draw upon their common Irish heritage and honor their immigrant roots by integrating traditional folk harmonies with contemporary instrumentation.

Judith and Holofernes, Abraça a Tristeza (2005)

After a pilgrimage to Portugal in search of lead singer Dos DaRosa's ancestral roots (and rhythms), the members of Judith and Holofernes began making sweet, sad music together. Their sound, described by some as rock and by others as folk, is inspired by the instrumentation and the raw emotion of traditional Portuguese fado music. Lovingly distributed by the Brooklyn indie label Vanguard Squad, Abraça a Tristeza (a Portuguese phrase that translates as Embrace the Sadness) indulges in lust, agony, guilt, and heartache. We're pretty sure this record can make grown men cry, which is why we love it.

Various Artists, Fiddler on the Roof (2004)

This 2004 Broadway cast recording features all the beloved classics from the 1964 original production, including "Tradition," "Matchmaker," "If I Were a Rich Man," and, of course, "Sunrise, Sunset."

Golden Bough, Songs of the Irish Immigrants (2004)

Travel back in time to the 19th century, when hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants poured into the country in search of the American Dream. This collection features a colorful sampling of the traditional Irish folk ballads and jigs that these travelers held near and dear to their hearts.

Various Artists, The Godfather Part II (1974)

Check out this dramatic soundtrack to the second film of the Godfather trilogy, which chronicles the life of Vito Corleone from his youth in Sicily to his adult life as an Italian immigrant in Prohibition-era New York.