Review: Journal of American Folklore: New Books

Subject: Books of Interest, Summer, 2012
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Aug 12 - 11:59 PM

These books were published in 2007 but just reviewed in JAFL.
The following is mostly bibliographic, since they have been available in bookstores for some time.

""Mek Some Noise": Gospel Music and the Ethics of Style in Trinidad," Timothy Rommen, 2007. Univ. California Press, 217pp.
Rommen focuses on the four main styles: gospelypso, North American Gospel, dancehall and jamoo (Jehovah's music). Choice is reflected in daily life, e. g., selection of a "maxi-taxi" could depend on which type of music is played during the trip.

"Jimmie Rodgers: The Life and Times of America's Blue Yodeler." Nolan Porterfield, 2007. Univ. Press of Mississippi, 460pp. Originally pulished by Univ. Illinois Press in 1979, with new preface by the author. The biography is chronologic in fashion. The discography includes composer, copyright holder and sales figures. A second appendix lists his personal appearances. Many details on how he made a living as an early 20th. C. folksinger (inc. tent companies), railroading and his relationship with Ralph Peer, copyright, recording details, and much more.
The relationship with folk music may be problematic, but that is true of many "folk" singers.