Category: Music History
A Hundred Years of Bad Luck: Who Was Elizabeth Smith?
A hundred years ago, Elizabeth Smith broke a looking glass. At least, that’s how she tells it. From that moment everything begins to go wrong. Her children give her sass. She stubs her toe against the kitchen door. Her hens stop laying. She makes the mistake of sitting in the thirteenth row at church and, … Continue reading “A Hundred Years of Bad Luck: Who Was Elizabeth Smith?”
Rediscovering Waymon “Sloppy” Henry -Songwriter, Bluesman, Vaudevillian One of the Mysteries of 1920s Atlanta
Songwriter, Bluesman, Vaudevillian — and One of the Mysteries of 1920s Atlanta Over the past few weeks I have been revisiting the catalogue of Waymon “Sloppy” Henry as part of an ongoing project to update metadata across the Document Records catalogue. Recently we launched Blue Century Records, a new label which allows us to present … Continue reading “Rediscovering Waymon “Sloppy” Henry -Songwriter, Bluesman, Vaudevillian One of the Mysteries of 1920s Atlanta”
SIX SONGS FROM THE STREETS OF KNOXVILLE: LEOLA MANNING
The remarkable story of the Tennessee singer and songwriter whose six surviving recordings captured faith, tragedy, death and Black life in Depression-era Knoxville. Leola Manning (left) with fellow Knoxville blues singer Odessa Cansler and Cansler’s brother, George Cansler. Courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound. There are musicians whose importance can be … Continue reading “SIX SONGS FROM THE STREETS OF KNOXVILLE: LEOLA MANNING”
“Fiddlin’ John Carson: The First Voice of Country Music”
🎻 Fiddlin’ John Carson: The Man Who Fiddled America Crazy IntroductionBorn on March 23, 1868, Fiddlin’ John Carson sparked the fire that became commercial country music. He was more than a fiddler — he was a moonshiner, a showman, and a radio pioneer. In 1923, Carson recorded “The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane” … Continue reading ““Fiddlin’ John Carson: The First Voice of Country Music””
Rights & Rhythms: Music History Through a Legal Lens – We Wish You Weren’t Here?
An exploration of Pink Floyd’s legal feuds, disputes and fallouts. On this day 12th September 1975. Pink Floyd released their ninth studio album Wish You Were Here in the UK. The album which explores themes of absence, the music business, and former band-mate Syd Barrett’s mental decline peaked at No.1 on both sides of the … Continue reading “Rights & Rhythms: Music History Through a Legal Lens – We Wish You Weren’t Here?”