Minstrel of the Appalachians: The Story of Bascom Lamar Lunsford

by Loyal Jones

Overview

It is said that Bascom Lamar Lunsford would "cross hell on a rotten rail to get a folk song"—his Southern highlands folk-song compilations now constitute one of the largest collections of its kind in the Library of Congress—but he did much more than acquire songs. He preserved and promoted the Appalachian mountain tradition for generations of people, founding in 1928 the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in Asheville, North Carolina, an annual event that has shaped America's festival movement. Loyal Jones pens a lively biography of a man considered to be Appalachian music royalty. He also includes a "Lunsford Sampler" of ballads, songs, hymns, tales, and anecdotes, plus a discography of his recordings.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813184241
Publisher:	University Press of Kentucky
Publication date:	10/21/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

Editorial Reviews

His is a story which richly deserves to be told and what better teller than Loyal Jones.

Appalachian Heritage

This is both a biography and an examination of Lunsford's career dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Appalachian traditional culture. Jones's study offers a significant contribution to our 'new' culture in the context of folk music. Loyal is an excellent storyteller, and his genial North Carolina manner is perfectly suited to the subject—there is a real affinity between Jones's authorial voice and Lunsford's personality.

Ron Pen

While towns and cities were burgeoning musically, trying to promote classical and art-forms over the simple songs of their ancestors, Bascom was desperately throwing his net to catch and hold onto these old time treasures. Loyal Jones has given much insight into the life and times of this amazing man.

Jean Ritchie

A fascinating and important study of one of the individuals responsible for bringing the authentic music of Appalachia to the attention of a wide public.

Choice

"His is a story which richly deserves to be told and what better teller than Loyal Jones." — Appalachian Heritage

"A fascinating and important study of one of the individuals responsible for bringing the authentic music of Appalachia to the attention of a wide public." — Choice

"While towns and cities were burgeoning musically, trying to promote classical and art-forms over the simple songs of their ancestors, Bascom was desperately throwing his net to catch and hold onto these old time treasures. Loyal Jones has given much insight into the life and times of this amazing man." — Jean Ritchie

"This is both a biography and an examination of Lunsford's career dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Appalachian traditional culture. Jones's study offers a significant contribution to our 'new' culture in the context of folk music. Loyal is an excellent storyteller, and his genial North Carolina manner is perfectly suited to the subject — there is a real affinity between Jones's authorial voice and Lunsford's personality." — Ron Pen

From the Publisher