In the Footsteps of John A. Lomax (ABC-Oz)

Subject: In the Footsteps of John A. Lomax (AusBC
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 11:20 PM

Here's something different, a program based on Lomax, père.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JOHN A. LOMAX: AMERICAN FOLK SONG COLLECTOR, which aired this weekend on ABC RadioNational Into the Music (Australia)

In this radio journey, narrated by folklorist Hal Cannon, we retrace those back roads of Texas and Louisiana to discover why the folk music that John Lomax documented in the early 20th century still resonates with us today. Join Cannon as he follows Lomax's path, listening to the original recordings he made, visiting some of the places where Lomax recorded, and talking with the grandchildren of those he recorded. With the help of cultural observers, folklorists and historians, Cannon demonstrates how the simple act of acknowledging the lives and music of ordinary working people changed history. From the Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas to Angola Prison in Louisiana this is a musical journey to the roots of popular music worldwide.

This is a 47 minute program produced in the U.S., written by Hal Cannon (a founding director of the Western Folklife Center). This seems to arise from a project that resulted in two shorter stories on NPR. The project is discussed in several posts on the Western Folklife Center blog.

The stories that aired on NPR were one on black cowboys, discussed in this Mudcat December 2010 thread, and one on Lomax's collecting at music at Angola Penitentiary (August 2011).

Here are links for those two stories at the Western Folklife Center website:
John Lomax and the Cowboy Blues
Prison Songs: The Angola Blues

Both the American Folklife Center and the Southern Folklife Collection shared the link to the ABC long program on Facebook today.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: In the Footsteps of John A. Lomax (AusBC
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 11 Jul 12 - 03:47 PM

Thanks Becky!

Subject: RE: In the Footsteps of John A. Lomax (AusBC
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 07:21 AM

An excellent programme Becky, thanks for passing on the information and link.

Does anybody know if the Gillette Brothers from Crockett, Texas have made any recordings? I like the segment of their version of Long Summer Day and it seem like I could sing their lyrics rather than those that I know already

Hoot

Subject: RE: In the Footsteps of John A. Lomax (AusBC
From: GUEST,CJB666
Date: 17 Nov 20 - 02:14 AM

Great - the main programme is still extant and availabe for dowloading.

Unfortunately the other two programmes appear to have long gone.

Here are links for those two stories at the Western Folklife Center website:
John Lomax and the Cowboy Blues
Prison Songs: The Angola Blues

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