Hank Williams Was Their Prophet and Tradition Was Their King
The story I’m about to tell is one of the many coming from the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Hardscrabble existence was a way of life with our pioneers, and it was no different in my… »
Damn Right You Should Listen to the Blues
“The blues ain’t nothin’ but a good man feelin’ bad,” according to “Negro Blues,” penned in 1913. There’s no question about the “feelin’ bad” part. The genre is defined by its twelve-bar tune with the… »
The Colored Sacred Harp
I have written here before about the history and mechanics of Sacred Harp singing, shape-notes, and Singing Schools. James Kibler has delivered some truly excellent talks about Singing Billy Walker and the origins of Amazing… »
Southern Rock for the Apocalypse, Dixie Version
The Orwellian nightmare known as 2020 continues. Not only are Confederate monuments and symbols under attack, seemingly benign references to anything Southern are now considered “racist.” Real estate listings that use the term “master bedroom”… »
Southern Rock for the Apocalypse, Part VII
Ramblin’ Man – Allman Bros This was the biggest hit for the Allman Brothers and it led Lynyrd Skynyrd to Sweet Home Alabama. Every Southern rock outfit wanted to recreate the magic of Ramblin’ Man.… »
Southern Rock for the Apocalypse, Part VI
Hot ‘Lanta – Allman Brothers Band The typical standard jazz composition that would be played by Miles Davis or John Coltrane is exactly the same type of composition as “Hot ‘Lanta.” It begins with the… »
Southern Rock for the Apocalypse, Part V
A series by Brion McClanahan, Tom Daniel, and Jeff Rogers Loan Me a Dime – Boz Scaggs Boz Scaggs rose to prominence after teaming with Steve Miller in the late 1960s on his first two… »
Southern Rock for the Apocalypse, Part IV
A list compiled by Brion McClanahan, Tom Daniel, and Jeff Rogers Good Time Feelin’ – Dickey Betts Betts’s solo projects were as good (if not better) than most Allman Brothers albums post Duane Allman. “Good… »
Southern Rock for the Apocalypse, Part III
A list compiled by Brion McClanahan, Tom Daniel, and Jeff Rogers Goin’ Down Slow – Duane Allman When Duane Allman died in 1971, the world lost one of the best slide guitar players in the… »
Southern Rock for the Apocalypse, Part II
A list compiled by Brion McClanahan, Tom Daniel, and Jeff Rogers Blood in the Water – The Jompson Brothers Before Chris Stapleton became Grammy Award winner Chris Stapleton, he was a singer/songwriter from Kentucky who… »
