I'm grateful to McGrath of harlow for the quoted verse above. These words so well express what Alan Lomax was about:

There is many a poor man...
whose spirit and name you raised;
you lifted the humble
whom our age put aside.
They gave you more
than they would give to others
since you gave them the zeal
that was a fire beneath your kindness.

The art of the common men and women of the earth, as perceived, gathered, and presented to us by Alan (and his father), has enriched our lives beyond measure.

I urge you to acquire and listen to the "Deep River of Song" series of Lomax field recordings available from Rounder. For me, they encapsulate the legacy he has left to us and from which we have so much to learn. It's more than music, you know; it's about life and our respect for and understanding of our fellow creatures.

Sandy