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

Description

In this clip blues and folk singer Elizabeth Cotten talks to Topper Carew about her early childhood. The inspiration for her famous song "Freight Train" is based on her experiences living next to railroad tracks. Overall, blues singers Elizabeth Cotten and "Mother" Esther Mae Scott talk with Topper Carew about their music and perform in studio for this one-hour program. Elizabeth Cotten, in her early eighties at the time of this appearance, performs her famous folk songs "Freight Train" and "Shake Sugaree" using her distinctive left-hand style of guitar playing known as "Cotten pickin'" and Esther May Scott, also in her early eighties, performs songs by Bessie Smith and Leadbelly. Both musicians were active participants in blues festival circuits at the time of the interview. Produced by Topper Carew. Directed by Conrad White.

Record Contributed By

WGBH

Record Harvested From

Digital Commonwealth