Bukka's Arrest

Subject: Bukka's Arrest
From: tomtom
Date: 17 May 99 - 10:17 AM

Does anyone know why exactly Bukka White was arrested and spent time at the Parchment(?) Work Farm? I've read conflicting stories and was wondering if there's one story that's accepted as being the truth--more or less.

dig my grave with a silver spade, tomtom

Subject: RE: Bukka's Arrest
From: Rockaday Johnny
Date: 18 May 99 - 01:41 AM

On 11/8/37 He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole -For more info see "Chasin' that Devil Music" 104 - 104 this info comes from court records and NOT oral tradition

Subject: RE: Bukka's Arrest
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 18 May 99 - 02:51 AM

I'll go along with Rockaday Johnny on that one - and besides providing the relevant information on Bukka White's spell in Parchman, Gayle Dean Wardlow's book is a fascinating collection of many of his articles going back over more than thirty years as one of the foremost researchers on the blues. As a bonus it comes with a CD of 19 rare blues recordings.

Brian

Subject: RE: Bukka's Arrest
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 18 May 99 - 02:53 AM

Let me recommend David Oshinsky's Worse Than Slavery; Parchman Farm and the Ordeal of Jim Crow Justice which describes the "justice" of Mississippi before Parchman was built, the leasing of prisoners to work for plantation owners, in the swamps, in the mines, etc. Then he describes Parchman and all its horrors. Leadbelly and "Son" House also served hard time there. On the page with Bukka's picture Oshinsky writes: "Booker T. Washington "Bukka" White was one of several bluesmen to serve time at Parchman. A former prizefighter and minor league baseball player, he was convicted for shooting a jealous rival in 1937. Well, I had a '38 Colt... and I let it loose, he recalled. At Parchman, White escaped much of the heavy field work by performing for the inmates and trusties. He even taught the camp sergeant's son to play guitar. Released in 1939, he moved to Chicago... (etc.)"

This is a well-written, well-researched and very disturbimg book, now available as a remainder from Edward R. Hamilton, Bookseller, in Falls Village, Connecticut. I don't have his web-site bookmarked, so I can't provide a convenient "blue clicky thing" for you, but Yahoo'll find it.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Bukka's Arrest
From:
Date: 18 May 99 - 05:57 AM

Let me get this straight. From Rockaday Johnny's and Brian's posting, I infer that there a book called "Chasin' the Devil Music" by Gayle Dean Wardlow. Is that right? Is it still in print?

Murray

Subject: RE: Bukka's Arrest
From: tomtom
Date: 18 May 99 - 08:44 AM

Thanks everybody for the info.

tomtom

Subject: RE: Bukka's Arrest
From: Rockaday Johnny
Date: 18 May 99 - 10:38 AM

Yes, the book's in print and can be ordered from your local music store (Support them!) through Hal Leonard.