The New Strangers

Forming a folk and blues partnership, Danny Kalb handled guitar and vocals alongside Samuel Charters, who contributed the same instruments. Both had previously belonged to the True Endeavor Jug Band and Dave Van Ronk’s Ragtime Jug Stompers. Operating in east-coast folk clubs from 1964 through 1965, the pair drew from the pre-war styles of Tampa Red and Georgia Tom. Meet The New Strangers appeared on Prestige/Folklore Records—where Charters also worked as a producer—and featured session bass support from Leonard Gaskin. Among its tracks was the traditional number ‘Alberta’, which highlighted Kalb’s distinctive guitar technique. Kalb went on to assemble the much-respected Blues Project and later recorded as a solo artist. Charters eventually relocated to California, where he produced Country Joe And The Fish and authored multiple volumes on blues history.