Lucky Joe's Namesake: The Extraordinary Life and Observations of Joe Wilson

Joe Wilson a native of rural East Tennessee, was a civil rights activist, self-educated scholar, founder/administrator of nationally important roots music enterprises, and was legendary for his colorful writing and opinions. Lucky Joe's Namesake, a companion to Roots Music in America: Collected Writings of Joe Wilson (also published by the University of Tennessee Press), brings us Wilson's life and observations, mostly in his own words. From humble mountain beginnings, Wilson's career progressed through Nashville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; and New York City, before settling him for twenty-eight years near the seats of power in Washington, DC, as the executive director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts. In that role, he developed a national model for folk festival presentations, stalked the halls of federal representatives seeking support for traditional artists, and filled concert venues throughout the world with audiences eager to experience the work of master folk musicians. A powerful advocate on behalf of agrarian values, social justice, artistic authenticity, and cultural democracy, Joe wrote in an engaging, humorous, and memorable style. This eclectic anthology is filled with Joe Wilson's brilliant published writing for magazines, books, and newspapers as well as privately circulated unpublished works, including an extended autobiographical essay. Readers are sure to benefit from Wilson's lessons and artful ruminations culled from a lifetime of devotion to music and cultural and social activism.

1125265659
Lucky Joe's Namesake: The Extraordinary Life and Observations of Joe Wilson

Joe Wilson a native of rural East Tennessee, was a civil rights activist, self-educated scholar, founder/administrator of nationally important roots music enterprises, and was legendary for his colorful writing and opinions. Lucky Joe's Namesake, a companion to Roots Music in America: Collected Writings of Joe Wilson (also published by the University of Tennessee Press), brings us Wilson's life and observations, mostly in his own words. From humble mountain beginnings, Wilson's career progressed through Nashville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; and New York City, before settling him for twenty-eight years near the seats of power in Washington, DC, as the executive director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts. In that role, he developed a national model for folk festival presentations, stalked the halls of federal representatives seeking support for traditional artists, and filled concert venues throughout the world with audiences eager to experience the work of master folk musicians. A powerful advocate on behalf of agrarian values, social justice, artistic authenticity, and cultural democracy, Joe wrote in an engaging, humorous, and memorable style. This eclectic anthology is filled with Joe Wilson's brilliant published writing for magazines, books, and newspapers as well as privately circulated unpublished works, including an extended autobiographical essay. Readers are sure to benefit from Wilson's lessons and artful ruminations culled from a lifetime of devotion to music and cultural and social activism.

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Lucky Joe's Namesake: The Extraordinary Life and Observations of Joe Wilson

Lucky Joe's Namesake: The Extraordinary Life and Observations of Joe Wilson

by Fred Bartenstein (Editor)
Lucky Joe's Namesake: The Extraordinary Life and Observations of Joe Wilson

Lucky Joe's Namesake: The Extraordinary Life and Observations of Joe Wilson

by Fred Bartenstein (Editor)

Paperback(1st Edition)

$29.95 
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Overview

Joe Wilson a native of rural East Tennessee, was a civil rights activist, self-educated scholar, founder/administrator of nationally important roots music enterprises, and was legendary for his colorful writing and opinions. Lucky Joe's Namesake, a companion to Roots Music in America: Collected Writings of Joe Wilson (also published by the University of Tennessee Press), brings us Wilson's life and observations, mostly in his own words. From humble mountain beginnings, Wilson's career progressed through Nashville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; and New York City, before settling him for twenty-eight years near the seats of power in Washington, DC, as the executive director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts. In that role, he developed a national model for folk festival presentations, stalked the halls of federal representatives seeking support for traditional artists, and filled concert venues throughout the world with audiences eager to experience the work of master folk musicians. A powerful advocate on behalf of agrarian values, social justice, artistic authenticity, and cultural democracy, Joe wrote in an engaging, humorous, and memorable style. This eclectic anthology is filled with Joe Wilson's brilliant published writing for magazines, books, and newspapers as well as privately circulated unpublished works, including an extended autobiographical essay. Readers are sure to benefit from Wilson's lessons and artful ruminations culled from a lifetime of devotion to music and cultural and social activism.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781621903161
Publisher: University of Tennessee Press
Publication date: 07/17/2017
Series: Charles K. Wolfe Music Series
Edition description: 1st Edition
Pages: 215
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword Barry Bergey xv

Preface xxiii

Acknowledgments xxvii

An Extraordinary Life

Growing Up in the Blue Ridge (1938-1956) 3

Learning about Life (1956-1959) 11

Nashville (1959-1962) 14

Birmingham (1962-1966) 19

New York (1966-1976) 28

The NCTA Years (1976-2004) 31

Back to the New River (2004-2015) 40

Trade, Tennessee

Introduction to Trade Articles 51

"Trading at Trade" 53

"Henry Main: Johnson County Pioneer" 60

"Grant and Sherman Come to Trade" 63

"Hanging the Hangman" 66

"The Visitor" 75

"Technology Comes to Trade" 80

Civil Rights

"Hucksters of Hate-Nazi Style" Edward Harris 101

"Alabama Observations" 114

Folklore and Folk Festivals

"The Talmadge Visit" 119

"Joe Wilson at the Helm of the NCTA" Eugenia Snyder 122

"Beginnings of the National Folk Festival" 126

"Folk Festivals: History, Concepts, Definitions" Lee Udall 135

"Preserving the Universe" 140

"Confessions of a Folklorist" 145

"Last Chorus: Chuck Perdue" 160

"Rediscovering Cambodia's Royal Ballet" Mark Lynn Ferguson 162

The Crooked Road

"The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail" 167

"In Honor of Singers Who Walked through Abingdon" 175

"Genesis of The Crooked Road'" 177

"A Statement for The Crooked Road" 179

Miscellany

"Frog Soup and Blowing Up Powder Houses: The Real History of the Blue Ridge Parkway" 183

"Reflections on Hogs in Vientiane" 186

"The King of Kansas: A Fable" 189

Joe's Gems: A Compilation of Eloquent and Memorable Short Communications 195

Index 211

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