With American Folk, Putumayo continues to highlight musicians who have written new songs inspired by folk traditions or have created new renditions of classic songs. Artists include Natalie Merchant, Josh Ritter, Shannon McNally, Nanci Griffith and many more. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of American Folk will be donated to Mercy Corps in support of their efforts to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure and productive communities. 2005.