The Pennywhistlers, founded by folklorist and singer Ethel Raim in 1962, were a prominent American singing group during the 1960s folk music revival. Specializing in Eastern European polyphonic vocal music, they performed primarily a cappella and also included traditional American songs in their repertoire. Their breakthrough came with appearances at notable events such as the Sing Out! hootenanny at Carnegie Hall and the Mariposa Folk Festival, and shared the stage with artists like Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and Joan Baez. The Pennywhistlers released several albums during their active years, including The Pennywhistlers: A Cool Day and Crooked Corn (1965) and Folksongs of Eastern Europe (1967) on Nonesuch Records. Their work was highly regarded for its authenticity, with folk singer Theodore Bikel praising them in his autobiography Theo. The group disbanded in 1968.
