The new film about Derroll Adams produced by Patrick Ferryn is a must see for all who care about folk music. It is a loving biography of a man, who in my opinion, was neglected as an important interpreter of American folk music today. Even Alan Lomax missed him. This film is headed toward Sundance and if there is any justice, it should receive an award. Derroll was the "real deal" and eschewed a lot of the hype that surrounds the show biz that much of folk music became. The late Bascom Lamar Lunsford was an important influence in his approach. I knew Derroll personally and his legacy is felt by all of us who were fortunate enough to hear him play and sing. He captured the essence of the traditional banjo-pickin' traditional balladeer and had an important message for us as an artist. Frank Hamilton
|