I think Leadbelly would have become fully as well known without Alan Lomax dressing him up in prison stripes. For someone who's contribution to field recording is immeasurable, for which he is owed our undying gratitude, Lomax fils seems to have had some seriously insensitive moments.

I have heard described a blues workshop at Newport in the early 'sixties where Lomax stood up two country bluesmen of the ilk of Fred McDowell or Bukka White -- he had them stand some distance from one another, possibly on boxes -- and instructed them to have a "carving session", "you know, like you used to do on streetcorners down South". The two singers, whoever they were, were understandably puzzled and embarrassed. If something like this actually happened, it must have felt really clammy, and does not reflect well on the great Lomax.

James.