This article orginally appeared in The Southern Illinoisan

SPARTA — Chris Vallillo will perform “Stephen Foster in Song” at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14, at the Sparta Public Library.

The award-winning folksinger and songwriter will be present Foster’s music and explore the effect of the legendary American icon and his music on culture.

An Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholar, Vallillo has spent more than 30 years collecting, learning and performing the roots music of the rural Midwest. He has conducted two major folklore projects, one of which now resides in the Library of Congress’ folklore collection.

From 1990 to 1997, he hosted and co-produced an award-winning nationally syndicated performance radio program called “Rural Route 3.”

The concert at the library, 211 W. Broadway, is free and open to the public.

— Adam Testaadam.testa@thesouthern.com
618-351-5031