Nick Spitzer

Nick Spitzer is a radio host, folklorist, and professor known for his deep expertise in American roots music and cultural traditions. He is the creator and host of American Routes, a nationally syndicated public radio program that has been exploring the diverse sounds of blues, jazz, gospel, country, Cajun, zydeco, and more since 1997.

Spitzer has had a distinguished career in public folklore and cultural documentation, serving as Louisiana’s first State Folklorist and founding the Louisiana Folklife Program. He has also worked as a senior folklife specialist at the Smithsonian Institution, producing concerts and broadcasts that celebrate traditional arts.

Beyond radio, Spitzer is a professor of Anthropology and American Studies at Tulane University, where he teaches courses on American music, Gulf South cultures, and public culture theory. His contributions to folklore and broadcasting have earned him national recognition, including a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.