At the heart of this album are contemporary singer-songwriters  who have honed their craft by exploring the country's rural traditions.  Texas native Terri Hendrix has become one of the folk world's most  endearing voices and delivers the heartwarming "Prayer for My Friends,"  while the eclectic Josh Ritter offers a tribute to the city of  "Harrisburg." RobinElla was trained in the church before launching into the  public eye, while Ruthie Foster's 2002 debut earned her comparisons to  Tracy Chapman, Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin. Robert Earl Keen, one  of the leading stars of the movement, and Old Crow Medicine Show give a nod  to America's fascination with transportation on "Ride" and "Wagon Wheel"  respectively.  The Little Willies, a group that includes Grammy-award winners Norah Jones  contributes "It's Not You, It's Me" is taken.  The development of Americana has also allowed artists who may have been  considered supporting musicians to take center stage.  Banjo virtuoso  Alison Brown began her career as a member of Alison Krauss' Union Station  before pursuing a successful solo career that earned her a Grammy in 2000.  Fiddler Carrie Rodriguez's talents captured the attention of Texas legend  Chip Taylor and together they have received accolades from the Americana  music community.  Other relative newcomers, including Kevin Kerby of Mulehead and Eliza Lynn,  have found a home within Americana's walls. Kevin recorded "Frankie Lee" in  2005, while Eliza Lynn contributes the unreleased but aptly titled "Sing a  New Song." A portion of Putumayo's proceeds from the sale of this CD will be donated  to America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network, which feeds  local communities who struggle with persistent hunger on a daily basis.