Carew, Topper White, Conrad Barrow-Murray, Barbara Johnson, Henry

Description

Larry Johnson is a New-York-City-based blues singer and acoustic guitarist; John Jackson a Virginia-based rural blues singer, who, like Leadbelly, accompanies himself on guitar. Together they perform "John Henry" in the studio. The program overall focuses on three performers of "roots" (or blues) music, a community-based, Black art form originating in the United States. Host Topper Carew conducts a group interview with three blues musicians: Victoria Spivey (a New-York-City-based urban blues vocalist in the tradition of Bessie Smith), Larry Johnson (a New-York-City-based blues singer and acoustic guitarist), and John Jackson (a Virginia-based rural blues singer, who, like Leadbelly, accompanies himself on guitar). Program includes musical performances by each musician, including "Black Snake Blues" (Spivey), "Charlie Stone" (Johnson), "Key to the Highway" (Johnson), and "John Henry" (Jackson and Johnson). Interview segments revolve around the questions of how the musicians started playing, who their influences are, and African American musical traditions. Produced by Topper Carew. Directed by Conrad White.

Record Contributed By

WGBH

Record Harvested From

Digital Commonwealth