Cotten made her first commercial recording session with the folk group the Seegers on August 9, 1958.
On August 9, 1958, Elizabeth Cotten, then in her 60s, recorded her first commercial session with the Seeger family. This session was a significant moment in folk music history, as it introduced Cotten's distinctive left-handed guitar playing to a broader audience. Among the tunes recorded was her composition "Freight Train," which had been a part of her personal repertoire since her teenage years. This session marked the beginning of her recording career and helped to revive interest in traditional American folk music across the nation and internationally. The session's success brought Cotten into the public eye, establishing her as a critical figure in the folk revival movement.