The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #49696   Message #752376
Posted By: GUEST,Very Poor Lazarus
22-Jul-02 - 10:13 AM
Thread Name: Obit: Alan Lomax-An Era Passes (1915-2002)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Alan Lomax-An Era Passes
Many of the same Mudcatters who shit on Bob Dylan for his use of traditional material have come to this thread to praise Alan Lomax.

Let us not forget that Lomax obtained copyrights as "composer" of thousands of traditional songs he recorded by source musicians from all over the world. James Carter, more than forty years later, thanks to the Coen Brothers, is one of the few source musicians to get his due.

Let us not forget that Lomax and his father (John A.) listed themselves as co-composers of "Goodnight Irene," depriving Leadbelly's family of more than a million dollars of royalties. They made it up to Leadbelly in his lifetime, though, by letting him drive their car.

They also humiliated Leadbelly by dressing him in prison stripes for concerts in front of rich, white folks.