{"product_id":"stagolee-shot-billy-9780674016262","title":"Stagolee Shot Billy","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlthough his story has been told countless times--by performers from Ma Rainey  Cab Calloway  and the Isley Brothers to Ike and Tina Turner  James Brown  and Taj Mahal--no one seems to know who Stagolee really is. Stack Lee? Stagger Lee? He has gone by all these names in the ballad that has kept his exploits before us for over a century. Delving into a subculture of St. Louis known as \"Deep Morgan \" Cecil Brown emerges with the facts behind the legend to unfold the mystery of Stack Lee and the incident that led to murder in 1895.  How the legend grew is a story in itself  and Brown tracks it through variants of the song \"Stack Lee\"--from early ragtime versions of the 20s  to Mississippi John Hurts rendition in the 30s  to John Lomaxs 1940s prison versions  to interpretations by Lloyd Price  James Brown  and Wilson Pickett  right up to the hip-hop renderings of the 90s. Drawing upon the works of James Baldwin  Richard Wright  and Ralph Ellison  Brown describes the powerful influence of a legend bigger than literature  one whose transformation reflects changing views of black musical forms  and African Americans altered attitudes toward black male identity  gender  and police brutality. This book takes you to the heart of America  into the soul and circumstances of a legend that has conveyed a painful and elusive truth about our culture.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45647895396405,"sku":"ByrdShop_0674016262","price":22.94,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780674016262.jpg?v=1781699329","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/stagolee-shot-billy-9780674016262","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}