The Southern Journey of Alan Lomax: Words Photographs and Music

About this book

A Best Photo Book of 2012 by American Photo. A new look at the legendary folklorist and his work. More than fifty years ago on a trip dubbed the Southern Journey Alan Lomax visited Virginia Georgia Alabama Mississippi Kentucky and Tennessee uncovering the little-known southern backcountry and blues music that we now consider uniquely American. Lomaxs camera was a constant companion and his images of both legendary and anonymous folk musicians complement his famous field recordings. These photographslargely unpublishedshow musicians making music with family and friends at home with fellow worshippers at church and alongside workers and prisoners in the fields. Discussions of Lomaxs life and career by his disciple and lauded folklorist William Ferris and a lyrical look at Lomaxs photographs by novelist and Grammy Award-winning music writer Tom Piazza enrich this valuable collection. 65 duotone photographs