Gene Bluestein helped create many innovative programs at CSU, Fresno and as part of his commitment to his job as an American Studies professor, he regularly brought America’s great folk artists to perform concerts in every city in which he lived. A partial list includes Lightnin’ Hopkins, Pete Seeger, Doc Watson, Buell Kazee, The Georgia Sea Island Singers, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Kilby Snow, Mike Seeger, The New Lost City Ramblers, Malvina Reynolds, and Jean Carignan.

Perhaps his crowning creation was a program known as the Resident Folk Artist Program. Over the course of six semesters, with funds awarded by The National Endowment for the Arts and the CSU, Fresno School of Humanities, six internationally acclaimed American folk artists were hired to teach music and culture of their own heritage.

 
Georgia sea Island singer Bessie Jones with Gene Bluestein (1976).

 
Jean Ritchie visited many schools during her residency at Fresno State (1979).

Richard Hagopian plays oud at a Fresno School (1978).

Lydia Mendoza was resident artist in 1982.

Kenny Hall and Gene Bluestein (CSUF 1976)

Evo with Dewey Balfa during 1987 residency.

In addition to the students who enrolled and learned from the resident artists, local public schools were invited to have the artists at their own school at no charge and many schools took advantage of that offer. Bessie Jones appeared at more than forty elementary, junior high and high schools during her residency in Fresno.

In 1979 Jean Ritchie recorded an album of her music accompanied by a selection of Fresno musicians she called The Fresno Friends. On May 12, 1987 the mayor of Fresno proclaimed Dewey Balfa Day.

The Resident Folk Artists included:
1976-77 Kenny Hall, Bessie Jones
1978-79 Richard Hagopian, Jean Ritchie
1982 (spring) Lydia Mendoza
1987 (spring) Dewey Balfa