"We must live for the future of music. I know there is a spark in every person that will respond and glow to the touch of beauty. Because I know this, I am going to continue presenting beauty to the world until I ignite that spark in people's hearts."
— Sun Ra, 1957

Our New Partnership with the University of California

The Dust-to-Digital Foundation and the University of California, Santa Barbara have partnered to make thousands of historic recordings freely accessible to the public. This collaboration helps ensure that rare recordings held in private collections are digitized, preserved, and made accessible for all.


Read more about this joint initiative on our Substack.

Featured Artist

Featured Story: Babe Stovall

Babe Stovall was a beloved fixture of New Orleans' French Quarter. He played his National guitar behind his head, shuffled through crowds, and brought ragtime and blues roaring back to life. "Candy Man" offers a rare chance to hear him at his best, documenting the spirit of a performer who kept older traditions alive through sheer talent and charm.

Babe Stovall - "Candy Man"

Recorded in Louisiana in 1966

0:00 3:46

From "Pied Piper of New Orleans," one of the 70+ albums produced by Dust-to-Digital

Read more about Babe Stovall on our Substack.

Presenting Music and Sound Cultures

50,000+ Recordings Digitized
70+ Albums Released
25+ Years of Curation

Featured Releases

Pictures of Sound
One Thousand Years of Educed Audio: 980-1980
Listen All Around
The Golden Age of Central and East African Music
Longing for the Past
The 78 RPM Era in Southeast Asia

Featured Posts

Recent Performances
Videos of artists performing around the world as submitted by our Instagram community.
Why Music?
The Dust-to-Digital Foundation's 2025 print featuring a quote by music teacher R. Daniel Mooney.
Remembering Bill Withers
Commemorating Bill's birthday with artists in Australia, Berlin, Buenos Aires, and China performing his music.

Messages from Our Community

Music journalists, collectors, deep listeners, historians, and enthusiasts from around the world share their perspectives on our work.

The Human Experience

"To see and hear the human experience throughout the world through song. I love this place. Emotion wells up inside.."

— @the_real_chaoslovemusic on Instagram

Presenting Lost Voices

"Dust-to-Digital is an anthropological project as much as a musical one: an investigation into the devotional rites of early‑20th‑century artists."

— Uncut Magazine

Mood Altering

"This mix of people, culture, and music from around the globe reminds me that there is beauty still left in this world and that people are inherently good and talented in so many ways. I don't know you, but I love you."

— @kei.ko.ku on Instagram

A Reliable Resource

"A resource for anyone looking for home‑grown virtuosos, spontaneous musical joy and spectacular rhythmic moments."

— Joe Boyd, Producer and Author

Our Mission

To date, we have digitized more than 50,000 rare recordings, safeguarding historic performances that would likely be lost forever otherwise. Our goal is to create access for everyone to be able to hear this music.

🏛️ Support Our Foundation 📖 Learn More