Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms were the most-played artists and had the top album (Gold in Your Pocket) on folk radio during December 2024, while the late Tom Prasada-Rao had the month’s most-played song (“Christmas in the Ashram”). So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.
A modern honky-tonk country roots harmony duo, Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms are based in the Pacific Northwest and have been touring together for years. Inspired by classic country, bluegrass, old-time, and Cajun music, the duo performs and records primarily original songs (many of which have been covered by others), along with some choice covers.
Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms performed live on WVDX Blue Plate Special in Knoxville, TN last fall. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a0g-r6RIv. And here’s a link to enjoy the official video for “Gold in Your Pocket,” the title track from the month’s most-played folk album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6tWzoItEI8.]
Tom Prasada Rao, who died last year, was a gifted Maryland-based singer-songwriter. Although perhaps best-known for “$20 Bill (for George Floyd);” a widely covered song that he wrote in the wake of protests following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, his rendition of Chris Rosser’s “Christmas in the Ashram” has also drawn much radio airplay. Here’s a link to listen to that song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u8C5m7LKz4.
The December 2024 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 12,269 airplays reported on 395 playlists submitted by 106 different folk DJs. The number of reported spins is shown below in parentheses.
Folk Alliance International (folk.org) is a nonprofit organization that aims to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion. Its 37th annual conference takes place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, February 19-23.
Top Albums of December 2024
1. Gold in Your Pocket by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (74)
2. The American Dream by Amy Speace (38)
3. Hydra by Eamon O’ Leary and Nuala Kennedy (37)
4. Last Leaf on the Tree by Willie Nelson (36)
4. Woodland by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (36)
6. Deep Feeler by Liv Greene (34)
7. Things Done Changed by Jerron Paxton (33)
8. Highway Prayers by Billy Strings (28)
9. Ride in the Light by Cindy Kallet (26)
10. Can’t Steal My Fire: The Songs of David Olney by Various Artists (25)
10. Now, O Now by Rakish (25)
12. Pathways by Julian Taylor (24)
13. In the Real World by Eric Bibb (23)
13. A Pinecastle Christmas Celebration by Various Artists (23)
15. Golden by Genevieve Racette (22)
15. Nowhere Next by Yonder Mountain String Band (22)
15. Storm Season by Tania Elizabeth (22)
15. Brighter Days by Dwight Yoakam (22)
19. Bluegrass Sings Paxton by Various Artists (21)
19. Trail of Flowers by Sierra Ferrell (21)
19. Backbone by Kasey Chambers (21)
19. Everything Must Go by Donal Hinely (21)
23. Thirteen by Colin O’Brien (19)
23. Love Your Mind by Twisted Pine (19)
23. Christmas in the Ashram by Tom Prasada-Rao (19)
23. Love, Dan by C. Daniel Boling (19)
27. Back on Track by Pure Prairie League (18)
27. Quiet Town by Mindy Smith (18)
29. Far Away With You by Woody Platt (17)
29. Earl Jam by Tony Trischka (17)
29. Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas by Mary
Chapin Carpenter (17)
29. Lonesome Road by Joel Mabus (17)
29. Blue by Joni Mitchell (17)
34. Yule Like This by Mark Stepakoff (16)
34. Christmas by Bruce Cockburn (16)
34. Lantern in the Dark: Songs of Comfort and Lullabies by Edie
Carey and Sarah Sample (16)
34. Wintertide by Brittany Jean (16)
38. American Noel by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer (15)
38. This Hen’s Gonna Crow by Colleen Kattau (15)
38. With a Guitar and a Pen by Tish Hinojosa (15)
38. Postcards of the Reckoning by Sean Kiely (15)
38. Woodbird by Jenny Burtis (15)
43. Waiting for Inspiration by Socks in the Frying Pan (14)
43. Just One Angel by Various Artists (14)
43. Where the Islands Overflow by Susan Graham Pepper (14)
43. Willie Watson by Willie Watson (14)
47. Ten Good Sermons by Eugene Ruffolo (13)
47. Heart of the Swan by Carla Sciaky (13)
49. As Above Now So Below by Crow and Gazelle (12)
49. Songs of the Celtic Winter Ii by Ashley Davis (12)
49. Ordinary Elephant by Ordinary Elephant (12)
49. Midwinter by Peter Mayer (12)
Top Songs of December 2024
1. “Christmas in the Ashram” by Tom Prasada-Rao (21)
2. “First United Methodist Day Care Christmas Show” by Amy Speace (16)
3. “Gold in Your Pocket” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (15)
3. “River” by Joni Mitchell (15)
5. “Christmas on the Mekong” by Scott Cook (13)
6. “He’s Gone” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (11)
6. “Christmas in the Trenches” by John McCutcheon (11)
8. “At Christmas” by Sofia Talvik (10)
9. “The Rites of Christmas” by Bett Padgett (9)
9. “Empty Trainload of Sky” by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (9)
9. “Silver Bells Ring” by Ana Egge (9)
9. “Wild Geese” by Liv Greene (9)
9. “Flowers” by Liv Greene (9)
14. “Shame Shame Shame” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (8)
14. “Same Little Heart” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (8)
14. “Celebration” by David Mallett (8)
14. “The American Dream” by Amy Speace (8)
14. “Must Be Santa” by Bob Dylan (8)
14. “Last of My Kind” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (8)
14. “The Welcome Song” by Jan Aldridge Clark (8)
14. “Ride in the Light” by Cindy Kallet (8)
22. “Last Leaf” by Willie Nelson (7)
22. “Brown’s Ferry Blues” by Tony Trischka (7)
22. “Just Go to Bethlehem” by Chris Haddox (7)
22. “Keep Me in Your Heart” by Willie Nelson (7)
22. “The Christians and the Pagans” by Dar Williams (7)
22. “Auld Lang Syne” by Ed Sweeney (7)
22. “Lighthouse” by Sierra Ferrell (7)
22. “Alice’s Restaurant (The Massacree Revisited)” by Arlo Guthrie (7)
22. “Silent Night” by Jesse Lynn Madera (7)
Top Artists of December 2024
1. Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (74)
2. David Mallett (61)
3. Bob Dylan (48)
4. John McCutcheon (45)
5. Amy Speace (44)
6. Willie Nelson (41)
6. Joel Mabus (41)
8. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (37)
8. Eamon O’ Leary and Nuala Kennedy (37)
10. Billy Strings (34)
10. Liv Greene (34)
12. Jerron Paxton (33)
13. Mary Chapin Carpenter (30)
13. Tony Trischka (30)
13. Cindy Kallet (30)
13. Joni Mitchell (30)
17. Pete Seeger (29)
17. Tom Prasada-Rao (29)
19. Eric Bibb (28)
20. Mark Stepakoff (27)
20. Brittany Jean (27)
22. Rakish (26)
23. Julian Taylor (25)
23. Bruce Cockburn (25)
25. Phil Ochs (24)
25. Paul and Mary Peter (24)
27. Judy Collins (23)
27. Genevieve Racette (23)
27. Stan Rogers (23)
27. John Prine (23)
27. Dwight Yoakam (23)
27. Carrie Newcomer (23)
27. Sierra Ferrell (23)
34. Willie Watson (22)
34. Mindy Smith (22)
34. Yonder Mountain String Band (22)
34. Tish Hinojosa (22)
34. Kasey Chambers (22)
34. Tania Elizabeth (22)
34. Bett Padgett (22)
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