Swamp Dogg Named Fall 2026 NYU–Americana Artist-in-Residence

New York University announces Swamp Dogg as the NYU–Americana Artist-in-Residence, October 27–29 at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. The legendary singer, songwriter, producer, and musical pioneer blends Southern soul, R&B, country, gospel, and psychedelic funk, creating his own original sound and recording more than two dozen albums over seven decades.

Swamp Dogg will be in conversation with Music Professor of Songwriting Phil Galdston and songwriter and producer Sam Hollander on October 28 at 8 p.m. in Room 303 of the Steinhardt building, 35 West 4th Street. Register here for the Swamp Dogg Words & Music event. In addition, he will be a guest at songwriting classes and will speak with faculty and students during his visit.

“We are delighted to welcome Swamp Dogg as our Fall 2026 Artist-in-Residence,” says Galdston, director of Steinhardt’s Songwriting program. “His extraordinary contributions reflect the creativity, resilience, and cultural exchange that define American popular music. Our students will have a rare opportunity to learn from an artist whose career demonstrates the power of fearless experimentation and a lifelong commitment to the art and craft of songwriting and record-making.”

A joint effort of NYU Steinhardt and the Americana Music Foundation, the program aims to spotlight Americana music’s heritage, preserve its legacy, and ensure its future. The artist-in-residence program began in 2021 with Rosanne Cash and has included Taj Mahal, Brandy Clark, Joe Henry, Allison Russell, Rodney Crowell, and Beth Nielsen Chapman.

“This residency is a wonderful example of what Steinhardt does best: connecting our students directly with artists who have shaped American culture,” says Kristie Patten, the Gale and Ira Drukier Dean of Steinhardt. “We are thrilled to host Swamp Dogg and to continue this partnership with the Americana Music Foundation.”

“Swamp Dogg is a true American original,” adds Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Foundation. “For decades, he’s been creating music that defies easy categorization, drawing from the deepest traditions of soul, blues, country, and roots music, while constantly pushing them forward. His remarkable story deserves to be heard by a new generation of artists.”

Born Jerry Williams Jr. in 1942 in Portsmouth, Virginia, the musician took on the persona of Swamp Dogg in 1970 with the release of his groundbreaking debut album, Total Destruction to Your Mind. He established himself as a songwriter, collaborated with Gary Bonds, John Prine, and Bon Iver, among others, and contributed to recordings by artists including Doris Duke and Z.Z. Hill.

In 2024, he released Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St, tracing the connections between Black musical traditions, bluegrass, country, and Americana and featuring contributions from Margo Price, Jenny Lewis, and Vernon Reid. His new recording, Swamp Dogg Contemplates the Afterlife, was released by S-Curve Records in June.