JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Musician Message Forum Anyone dig Jazz?

I don't believe that there is really a true American art form since we are still called "The new world". Adult african american slaves used to fashion banjos after an instrument called the Akonting of the Jola tribe of Senegambia. Most folk music has roots in the British Isles. Someone mentioned John/Allen Lomax. I would suggest reading and listening to their studies of folk music from LOC. They have in my opinion the most cromprehensive study of American music and origins to date. And John Lomax began his studies in the 30's. He went to prisons to record songs. Leadbelly was discovered at Angola prison in Louisianna. He went to railroad and coal mining work camps. Some of the old songs that we sang as children were discovered by these missions. What if these songs were forgotten? I guess it wouldn't matter but it is still nice to remember the first song you ever learned. Ben

http://benwillismusic.com