ROOTS IN THE ARCHIVE: Test Pressings Help Keep Robert Johnson's Songs Alive
No American roots musician is the subject of more myth, mystery, discussion, and debunking than bluesman Robert Johnson. Some still whisper that he learned his powerful playing technique through a deal with the devil — even though this is a venerable legend told of many musicians before Johnson was even born,
Dan Penn Delights with ‘Living on Mercy’
Dan Penn is a national treasure. He may not be the household name he should be, but everyone’s been moved by his and Chips Moman’s “Dark End of the Street” and “Do Right Woman,” or his and Spooner Oldham’s “I’m Your Puppet.” Living on Mercy offers
Zephaniah OHora Mines Merle Haggard on 'Listening to the Music'
In terms of musicality, lyrical depth and pure swagger, there are few country music legends who compare to the late, great Merle Haggard.
With a 50-year career that included the expected ebbs and flows, there’s much art to explore, consider, and analyze. For the brave musicians who follow, there
Molly Tuttle Breaks the Mold with Covers Album ‘…but i’d rather be with you’
An album of cover songs can serve all sorts of purposes. For a veteran, it might be a chance to take stock of your roots and salute those who provided inspiration way back when (or merely a way to tread water until there’s enough original material for another long
Colter Wall Finds Freshness in Traditional Country Themes
Drawing from a range of folk and country sources, Canadian singer-songwriter Colter Wall offers Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs, adopting and claiming as his own the perennial personas of the rambling man, the cowboy, and the unapologetic outsider.
The opening track, “Western Swing & Waltzes,” is an
Fisk Jubilee Singers Keep ‘Living History’ Alive
The Fisk Jubilee Singers didn’t plan to release an album of Negro spirituals* and politically current songs about treating strangers with kindness in the middle of the Black Lives Matter protests — it just worked out that way.
Celebrating Fisk!:The 150th Anniversary Album was released June 26 on Curb