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Music Article Archives

Get In Union: Bessie Jones with the Sea Island Singers: 1959-1966

Get In Union: Bessie Jones with the Sea Island Singers and Others: Alan Lomax Recordings 1959-1966 Tompkins Square By James Calemine Alan Lomax once declared the Golden Isles of Georgia home of the American song. Get In Union: Bessie Jones read more...


Deep Water And Blue Souls: Roger Pinckney's Blow The Man Down

Deep Water And Blue Souls Roger Pinckney's Blow The Man Down By James Calemine                 "Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely read more...


Rich Robinson's Ceaseless Sight

Rich Robinson's Ceaseless Sight The End Records By James Calemine                              read more...


Cheyenne Mize: Shades of Blue & Grey

Cheyenne Mize: Shades of Blue & Grey By James Calemine "If I could think of a way to do it right now, I'd head back to Louisville, sit on the porch drinking beer, drive around Cherokee Park for a few nights, and try to sink back read more...


The Bloom of Underhill Rose

By James Calemine "I've been told I've got a restless soul How much dirt do I need to dig through Before I hit the gold I tried to be read more...


Bloodkin's One Long Hustle

By James Calemine CLICK ON LINKS WITH


Stranger In Paradise: The Works of Howard Finster

Stranger In Paradise: The Works of Reverend Howard Finster By James Calemine "For nation will rise read more...


New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music

New Horizons By James Calemine  "I'm gonna sail like A ship on the ocean..." --The Georgia Sea island read more...


The Shoals Area Heats Up for the 31st Annual W. C. Handy Music Festival

It's almost that time again when the hills of North Alabama are alive with the sound of music. The 31st annual W. C. Handy Music Festival, which runs July read more...


Luther Dickinson: A Thousand Footprints in the Sand

By James Calemine Luther read more...


Games People Play: Atlanta Songwriter Joe South

Games People Play: Atlanta Songwriter Joe South By James Calemine Joe South's songs remain timeless. To me, he always epitomized the story of a living legend that no one can seem to find. He's out there somewhere, but no one has heard from him read more...


Levon Helm: Across The Great Divide

Levon Helm: Across The Great Divide To me, Levon Helm's voice captured the authentic roots of America's south. Born in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas, Helm grew up on Sonny Boy Williamson, traveled with


Swampland's Top 25 Albums of 2011

As March fades and the first quarter of 2012 comes to a close, Swampland has used this moment to look back on 2011 putting together our list of last year's best music releases from the South. Although we've named 25 records on our Top 25 Albums of 2011, each one serves as read more...


American Roots Music: "The Jefferson County Sound: Alabama's Black Gospel Quartets"

The new documentary film, "The Jefferson County Sound: Alabama's Black Gospel Quartets," (One State Films, Stone Ridge, NY, 2012) is a tribute to and an affectionate preservation of roots music, in particular black gospel a capella quartet music. The read more...


A Georgia Son in the Big Apple: The Brit Whittle Interview

A Georgia Son in the Big Apple The Brit Whittle Interview By James Calemine Acting is a rough trade. Few attain moments on the silver screen. The streets of Hollywood and New York are paved with bones of dead aspirant thespians. Georgia read more...


Michelle Malone Works It Out

Michelle Malone Works It Out  By Jerry Grillo   Watch Michelle Malone on stage, feel the rhythmic wave wash over the crowd, the tangible electric surge of rock and badass blues and sensual, sweaty soul, and it’s difficult to read more...


Going Up The Country: The Sixth Annual Sautee Jamboree

Going Up the Country: It’s Music for the Little Masses as the Sixth Annual Sautee Jamboree Rocks the Hhillsides By Jerry Grillo “I’m gonna leave this city, got to get away; All this fussing and fighting, read more...


Jimmy Hall: Still Smiling, With Plenty of Horsepower

Jimmy Hall Still Smiling, With Plenty of Horsepower By Jerry Grillo Jimmy Hall might write a book some day, and the whole thing will be about that one song, the one that got read more...


My Year of Scary Movies: (Part 5): Psycho

My Year Of Scary Movies by Daniel Hutchens Part 5: Psycho (1960) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock Starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh


Making Merry in the Marigny: FMIA Tour of Homes, New Orleans

Visitors to New Orleans who think the city is defined by the French Quarter and the Garden District are in for a delightful surprise when they wander past Esplanade and across Elysian Fields into the fabulous Faubourg Marigny. Popularly known as the


The Secret To A Happy Ending

The Secret To A Happy Ending A Barr Weissmann Documentary (ATO Records) By James Calemine                "The secret to a happy read more...


My Year of Scary Movies: (Part 3): Nite Owl Theatre

MY YEAR OF SCARY MOVIES by Daniel Hutchens Part 3: Nite Owl Theatre “Greetings, Good Groovers.” As a kid I would sometimes visit my older sister Sandi in the summertime. She lived in Athens, Ohio, and one of read more...


My Year of Scary Movies (Part 1): Bats On My Birthday Cake

MY YEAR OF SCARY MOVIES by Daniel Hutchens Part 1: Bats On My Birthday Cake When I turned six years old, my birthday cake was decorated with bats. Not bats of the baseball variety, but bats with wings. As in vampire bats, as in read more...


Rock and Roll in the Rocket City: Rocking The Army

by Jane DeNeefe First among Alabama cities to integrate public facilities relatively peacefully, Huntsville could thank musicians and read more...


Rock and Roll in the Rocket City Part 2: Rock and Roll Boomtown

by Jane DeNeefe Last month in


The Roots of Rock and Roll in the Rocket City by Jane DeNeefe

Huntsville's rock and roll scene got its start in a racially segregated world. Black and white neighborhoods and business districts coexisted side-by-side downtown, with separate record stores, churches and night clubs. When Sun Record tours came through read more...


Rock and Roll Mommy

Rock and Roll Mommy by Shannon McNally I didn’t recognize the first signs of being pregnant. I mistook them for extreme road weariness. I was in the studio in Lafayette making a record with Mac Rebennack, (also known as


Young Man With A Horn: Ken Watters, Jazz Trumpeter Extraordinaire

"Ken Watters is one of the finest young trumpet players to come along in a very long while. His is a unique trumpet voice that utilizes the read more...


Widespread Panic's Michael Houser: Eight Years Gone

Michael Houser: The Quiet Genius: Eight Years Gone By James Calemine Eight years ago Widespread Panic’s founding guitarist died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 40. It doesn’t seem like eight years since he’s been read more...


The GRITZ Stone Ground & Southern Compilation Home Page

Welcome to the official information page for the GRITZ Stone Ground and Southern Music Compilation Series. We hope you will enjoy these free downloads, visit the band websites and order their albums. Please be sure to give us your read more...


Bill Kirchen – Twangin’ His Way To The Top

By J.C. Juanis Bill Kirchen, known as the “King of the Dieselbilly” when it comes to playing his trademark Fender Telecaster guitar,


The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 24, Jam 4 George 2007, The Lost Pictures

We recently ran across a whole new batch of photos from the 2007 Jam 4 George (McCorkle) in Spartanburg, SC, Visit our original story and photos


Promise To Thomas Benefit Rocked

by Dewayne Fields The Promise To Thomas benefit show  took place on May 9th in Castle Hayne, N.C. The event benefited Thomas King, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ryan King. Ryan is frontman and singer of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band Tuesday's read more...


Truth And Salvage Company: From the Hills of Carolina To the Hills of California

Truth and Salvage Company: From the Hills of Carolina To The Hills of California By James Calemine The rare collection of songwriters in Truth And Salvage Company originate from Atlanta, New Orleans, Tupelo and Ohio, met in Asheville, North Carolina, read more...


The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook, Part Twenty-Five; Ronnie Van Zant

RONNIE VAN ZANT FOREVER! A Scrapbook  


"Ain't No City Like New Orleans"--New Orleans Journal Episode One

April in Paris? How about April in one of the most incredible cities in the world--a city rich with history, redolent with aromas of exotic cuisine, and resounding with jazz-- New Orleans, Louisiana. New read more...


GRITZFEST II Photo Retrospective

Photos from GRITZFEST II, The Haiti Relief Concert at Crossroads Music Hall, Huntsville, Alabama; February 26, 2010 Photos by Michael Buffa;o Smith except where noted


Six Degrees of Swampland: Drive-By Truckers

  The Six Degrees of Swampland: The Drive By Truckers serves as a compendium of all DBT-related read more...


UA Press Releases Alabama's Civil RIghts Trail: An Illustrated Guide

This  amazing 350 page volume, Alabama's Civil Rights Trail: An Illustrated Guide to the Cradle of Freedom, is every person's guide to the last 150 years of the civil read more...


Athens Georgia's Finest: Patterson Hood's 2010 Guitar Pull

Athens Georgia's Finest: Patterson Hood’s 2010 Guitar Pull By James Calemine   A cold wind swirled down the streets of Athens, Georgia, on the evening of February 24. Wednesday night’s Guitar Pull was hosted by read more...


Six Degrees of Swampland: The Dickinson Family

       Jim Dickinson--The High Priest of Memphis Mojo--shines like a beacon of light in the music world. Dickinson’s indelible read more...


Bloodkin Sails with Lynyrd Skynyrd

BLOODKIN SAILS WITH LYNYRD SKYNYRD By Daniel Hutchens Back on January 14,


Remembering Capricorn's Frank Fenter: The Push To Get Him Into The Georgia Music Hall of Fame

by Michael Buffalo Smith Frank Fenter is truly an unsung hero of the music world, especially in the world of Southern Rock. Today there is a movement afoot set into motion by Fenter’s step[son Robin to get Fenter into The Georgia Music Hall of Fame. His work read more...


The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 23, The 2010 Simple Man Cruise

January 21-25, 2010 Photos by Tom Bell


Memories of Vic Chesnutt By Daniel Hutchens

LISTENING TO A LOT OF LITTLE: MEMORIES OF VIC CHESNUTT By Daniel Hutchens


James Gurley – Janis Joplin’s Guitarist 1939-2009

By: J.C. Juanis James Gurley, the fiery guitarist from Big Brother & the Holding Company, the band that helped propel singer Janis Joplin to international prominence, passed away at his Palm Desert home on December 20th, 2009.


Bloodkin Gears Up For Christmas, The Shining And A Long Hustle

Bloodkin Gears Up For Christmas, The Shining And A Long Hustle By Daniel Hutchens


The Big House - America's Finest new Rock'n'Roll Museum

by John Charles Griffin Macon Music Ambassador The much anticipated Allman Brothers Band Big House Museum in Macon, read more...


The Who Tragedy in Ohio: A First Hand Rememberance

My First Hand Remembrances of the Who Concert Tragedy 30 Years Ago Today By Derek Halsey It is hard to believe that it has been 30 years since the tragedy of The Who concert in Cincinnati on December 3rd, 1979. On that tragic night 11 read more...


Capricorn Records - A Tribute

Swampland's Tribute To Capricorn Records When Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records gave Phil Walden and Frank Fenter the read more...


Lisa Love's Soulful Mission for The Georgia Music Hall of Fame

Lisa Love’s Mission To Preserve The Georgia Music Hall of Fame By James Calemine  My old friend


Johnny Mercer: A Georgia Peach of a Songwriter

by Billy C. Farlow    Elk River    November 2009 Johnny Mercer is not your usual Southern music icon. In the genre of down-home music greats most life stories are all too read more...


Chuck Leavell Fall 08 Interview (Part One)

The Chuck Leavell Interview Fall 08 (Part One) "The cultivation of trees is the cultivation of the good, the beautiful and the read more...


The 25 Best Songs: The Atlanta Rhythm Section

The genesis of ARS began with The Candymen, a group that backed up Roy Orbison. Later, some of the members formed The Classics IV and charted with the classic “Spooky.”  ARS were all accomplished studio musicians, and when they all came together in their home read more...


Lynyrd Skynyrd: Six Degrees of Swampland

   


The 2009 Allman Brothers Band Beacon Run in Review

Swampland Reviews The Entire 2009 Beacon Run   Be Sure read more...


Jerry Wexler and Muscle Shoals Music

by Dick Cooper On the occasion of the first anniversary of the death of Jerry Wexler it becomes more evident to the extent of his contribution to Muscle Shoals Music. He died August 15, 2008 at his home in Sarasota, FL of congestive heart failure.


Billy C Farlow Talks about Jaybird Coleman and the Blues Harp

by guest writer Billy C. Farlow After my rant about harp blowers not getting enough credit in Ted Gioia's fine book


Folk Music Legend Mike Seeger Dies at 75

The New Lost City Ramblers Last Ever Concert at Clifftop 2009 By Derek Halsey It is the night of July 30th, 2009 at the Appalachian String Band Festival, an annual musical gathering also referred to as simply “Clifftop” held read more...


Widespread Panic's Official 2008 Induction Into Georgia Music Hall of Fame

2008 Widespread Panic Induction Into Georgia Music Hall of Fame By James Calemine (Published in the Official 30th Anniversary Georgia Music Hall of Fame 2008 read more...


Walking Through The Fire with Mark Karan

by Sonny Edwards Because live music is what it’s really all about, Jemimah Puddleduck will celebrate the release of Mark Karan’s Walk Through the Fire by playing on David Gans’ Dead to the World show on KPFA on July 1st, 2009, from 8 pm to read more...


The Marshall Tucker Band: Six Degrees of Swampland

  Blending their Carolina country roots with r&b and jazz stylings, The Marshall read more...


Macon GABBAFEST Soars to 101 Degrees


Barney Hoskyns' Biography Lowside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits

Barney Hoskyns’ Biography The Lowside of The Road: A Life of Tom Waits By James Calemine “Take an eye for an read more...


Brad "The Animal" Lesley Guest Blog: Baseball & Marshall Tucker

I met Toy Caldwell for the first time at the Walnut Grove Opry House in Spartanburg, SC in the late 70's. Did my first shot/sip of moonshine that night as well - what a shock. I was playing with the Greensboro read more...


The "Widespread Panic Archives" Guide

          


The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook

Sometimes, a picture truly is worth a thousand words... Welcome to the GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook. This will be an ongoing, often updated, collection of classic and new Southern Rock photographs, many of which have never before read more...


The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 22, Lynyrd Skynyrd in Concert

Turning Stone Casino, Verona, New York. November 22, 2009  


Ean Evans of Lynyrd Skynyrd: A Memorial; Frynds Remember the "Mississippi Kid"

Wayne “Ean” Evans, bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died after a hard fought battle with cancer. He was 48. Evans was


The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 18 Memorials

The following photos feature the final resting places of some true Legends of Southern Rock. The photos come to us courtesy of GRITZ reader Ken Avin. Thank you brother Ken. PART ONE: LYNYRD SKYNYRD


The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 19, Memorials

Memorials, continued. Allman Brothers Band and Marshall Tucker Band. Duane Allman and Berry Oakley read more...


The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 21: The Outlaws

 


The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 15, 1971, Skynyrd, MTB, EQT

Ronnie Van Zant playing in the park in Jacksonville, 1971.


The GRITZ Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part 20, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rossington Collins Band

Mr. Cool, Ronnie Van Zant. Lynyrd Skynyrd.  


The True Era of Southern Rock 1969-1979

by Michael Buffalo Smith The definitive Southern Rock era began in 1969. In Macon, Georgia. Phil Walden, who had previously been known for his work with r&b acts like read more...


Merlefest 2009 - April 23-26: A Preview, and The Influence of Duane Allman On Newgrass

Gritz interviews James Nash of the Waybacks and New Grass Revival legend John Cowan on being a part of the now infamous Hillside Album Hour ‘Led Zep’ jam at last year’s Merlefest, on what is in store for Merlefest 2009, and how groups like the Allman Brothers read more...


Legends of Southern Rock: Cowboy


Let's Have a Party: Wanda Jackson Still Rocking at 71

by Penne J. Laubenthal When I was young, I did not even know Wanda Jackson by name but there was no mistaking that distinctive voice. She could rock the rafters with


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Fourteen

Gregg Allman with The Allman Joys.  


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Twelve

  The boys at their finest!  


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Thirteen

Molly Hatchet, 1978  


The Top 40 Moments From The Allman Brothers Band's 2009 Beacon Run

The 2009 Beacon Run was one for the books. Never have The Allman Brothers welcomed so many diverse guests onto their stage during a single run. And the results were read more...


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Eight, Capricorn Days

Frank Fenter, Phil Walden, Dick Wooley and Don Schmitzerly do the Marx Brothers.


The Allman Brothers Band: An Essential Link Through America's Music Generations

by James Calemine   “You don’t need no gypsy to tell you why/You can’t let one precious day slip by…”                    --Gregg read more...


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Seven

Phil Walden and Frank Fenter lakeside.  


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Eleven

Busted! But Duane kept on smilin!  


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Six; Capricorn Days

Frank Fenter in his office at Capricorn Records, Macon.


Six Degrees of Swampland: Widespread Panic


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook : Part Nine, Skynyrd, Tucker and more

This series of pictures was sent to us by a reader. They were taken on May 20, 1974 at Santa Monica Civic read more...


It Came from Old Memphis

The Death of Community Activist/Blues Musician Willie King 1943-2009 by Andy Moore In early 2002, I worked a stint at a small, family owned record distributor in Nashville. Nothing too exciting, we had our only sales success with some locally read more...


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook, Part Three

Lynyrd Skynyrd 1973.  


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook; Part One

    Duane Allman having fun backstage.


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook, Part Two

THE RANTS: Toy Caldwell and George McCorlkle's pre-Toy Factory, pre-Marshall Tucker band. read more...


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook, Part Five: Cowboy, Capricorn & MTB

The Cowboy House in Cochran, GA. Actually called "The Shedd House" at the time, it was where read more...


The Legends of Southern Rock Photo Scrapbook, Part Four

Mark Emerick (Commander Cody) jams with Dickey Betts & Great Southern.


Dennis Linde Memorial Benefit: A Photo Retrospective

PHOTO RETROSPECTIVE "A Night of Burnin' Love" Benefit and Dennis Linde Memorial Nashville, February 9, read more...


My Longstanding Love Affair with Guitar Magazines (by William Tonks)

My Long Standing Love Affair with Guitar Magazines By William Tonks I have been enamored with the guitar since I was about 8 or 9. read more...


The Derek Hess Photo Album: A Swampland Exclusive!

The following collection of phoros come courtesy of Derek Hess. Be sure to read our interview with Derek here.


The 25 Best Album Covers of Southern Rock

by Michael Buffalo Smith I am really excited about the recent comeback of vinyl records. I mean, not only is the old analog sound richer and warmer, but the big LP jackets were always a treat in and of themselves, from the liner notes and photos to the inserts. (Our read more...


Billy Powell Memorial: Friends and Family Pay Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd Pianist

The outpouring of love for Billy Powell over the past 24 hours has been unprecedented. It is very obvious that both he and his beloved Lynyrd Skynyrd are absolutely loved and adored read more...


Legends of Southern Rock: Lynyrd Skynyrd

by Michael Buffalo Smith SIX DEGREES OF SWAMPLAND:LYNYRD SKYNYRD (A one page guide for all Swampland articles, interviews, and review about Lynyrd Skynyrd)


The 25 Best Songs: Lynyrd Skynyrd

by Michael Buffalo Smith And now, my choices for the 25 all-time best songs recorded by Lynyrd Skynyrd. 1. Freebird


The Simple Man Cruise 2009: A Photo Retrospective

January 8 -12, 2009 Lynyrd Skynyrd - Marshall Tucker Band - Molly Hatchet - 38 Special - and more... Photos by Tom Bell


The 20 Best Songs: ZZ Top

by Michael Buffalo Smith For nearly 40 years Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard of


Delaney & Bonnie & Friends: Six Degrees of Swampland


Bo Bice: Six Degrees of Swampland

"He’s a really nice guy, and I read more...


Warren Haynes Celebrates 20th Anniversary Of His Christmas Jam

Warren Haynes – Asheville ~ New Orleans ~ New York City Haynes Celebrates 20th Anniversary Of His Christmas Jam By Derek Halsey There was a phenomenon in major league baseball back in the day called “The McCovey read more...


Van Zant Helps Make Timmy and Hannah Benefit a Huge Success

by Darlene Stevens The families of Timmy Mooring and Hannah Roddy would like to thank everyone for their support during their time of need. Timmy, who was burned over 50% of his body in a debris fire at his home on August 9th 2008 and stayed almost three months


2008 Georgia Music Hall of Fame Inductions

                                    2008 Georgia Music Hall of Fame


The 25 Best Songs: The Allman Brothers Band

by Michael Buffalo Smith They were the the first, and many consider them the best, band of the Southern Rock era. The fiery slide guitar of Duane Allman, the country meets Django guitar and decidedly country vocals of


Legends of Southern Rock: 38 Special

by Michael Buffalo Smith


Space Opera - LOST IN SPACE (Chapter 2)

The Epic Saga of Fort Worth's Space Opera CHAPTER TWO: HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PARTY (and later, a problem)... "I'm at the club one evening and three guys show up, and we're talking gawky, zit-faced teenagers... they wanted me to come to Fort read more...


Where Are They Now? Former Marshall Tucker Band Bassist Tim Lawter

by Michael Buffalo Smith Tim Lawter played the bass guitar in The read more...


Charlie Daniels: Six Degrees of Swampland

  "Bocephus and


Space Opera - LOST IN SPACE

The Epic Saga of Fort Worth's Space Opera by Frank Gutch A FOREWORD, OF SORTS... I have to laugh when I think of how many people, including those in the music industry, considered Space Opera one of Canada's best rock exports. read more...


The 25 Best Songs: The Mashall Tucker Band

by Michael Buffalo Smith I will never forget the first time I heard the music of The Marshall Tucker Band. Not only were they a blend of every kind of music I loved, from blues to country rock to jazz, they were from my home town of Spartanburg, SC. It was an immediate read more...


The 100 Defining Moments in Southern Rock: Part Six (Final Installment)

17. Bonnie Bramlett’s Run On Roseanne (1991) Bonnie (Then called Bonnie Sheridan) shows up as a waitress in a diner and a friend of Roseanne in both the third and read more...


Guest Blog by Dick Cooper: Remembering Jerry Wexler

by Dick Cooper This has been a hard time for me. Jerry Wexler was more than a mentor; he altered the forces of nature and changed the world for me. I was never sure why he read more...


What It Is--Is Swamp Music--Is What It Is

                                   What It Is—Swamp Music—Is What It Is


GRITZ Presents: Buffalo Roaming

BUFFALO ROAMING


The 100 Defining Moments in Southern Rock: Part Five

by Michael Buffalo Smith And we continue.... 28. “Stompin’ Room Only” Released (2003) The “Holy Grail” for Marshall Tucker Band fans, read more...


The 100 Defining Moments in Southern Rock: Part Four

by Michael Buffalo Smith 39. Jammin’ for Danny Joe Brown - (July 18, 1999) An all star concert headed up by Riff West to raise money for


Chuck Leavell: Rolling Stone & Tree Farmer

read more...


Mystery And Manners' Honorary Southern Artists: Volume One

Mystery And Manners' Honorary Southern Artists Overview: Volume One By James Calemine


The 100 Defining Moments in Southern Rock: Part Three

59. “Freebird” The Movie Premiers (1996) Drawn mostly from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1976 show at Knebworth Fair in England. the movie also included footage from a few read more...


Wynton and Willie and the Blues

by Penne J. Laubenthal The Marsalis family and Willie Nelson and I go way back. I have been a fan read more...


The 100 Defining Moments in Southern Rock: Part Two

79. Cameron Crowe Puts The Allmans On the Cover of the Rolling Stone (December 6, 1973) Cameron Crowe went on the road with The Allman Brothers at the age of 15, and read more...


The 100 Defining Moments in Southern Rock: Part One

by Michael Buffalo Smith 100. “Pony Boy” Hand bone (1973) Dickey Betts brought country music sensibility into


Filming a Southern Movie in Rome, Georgia with Jimmy Hall and Tommy Talton

by Michael Buffalo Smith Ken Wheeler is betting the farm on a movie. Wheeler, a farmer from the Rome, Georgia area, is putting his money, heart and soul into the read more...


Bob Dylan's Renaldo & Clara: Asleep In The Tomb

Bob Dylan’s Lost Classic Renaldo & Clara: Asleep In the Tomb By James Calemine "I've been read more...


The Ten Greatest Southern Rock Cities

by Michael Buffalo Smith   1. Jacksonville, Florida     The birthplace of


The Greatest Songwriters of The Southern Rock Era

by Michael Buffalo Smith   1. Dickey read more...


The Greatest Instrumentalists of The Southern Rock Era

INSTRUMENTALISTS (OTHER THAN GUITAR/KEYS/DRUM KIT) by Michael Buffalo Smith  


Guest Blog by Molly Hatchet's John Galvin: The Taste of Southern Rock

THE TASTE OF SOUTHERN ROCK by John Galvin of Molly Hatchet I was first read more...


Guest Blog: Henry Paul On Marshall Tucker

by Henry Paul My first recollection of The Marshall Tucker Band was hearing them on the radio and seeing read more...


The Greatest Keyboard Players of The Southern Rock Era

by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Chuck Leavell      Take one look at the Georgia boy’s


The Greatest Bass Players of the Southern Rock Era

1. Tommy Caldwell - According to all of the members of The Marshall Tucker read more...


Great Southern Record Producers

  "There are three kinds of record producers. The first kind is the documentarian -- someone like Leonard Chess, who goes into a bar on the South Side of Chicago, sees Muddy Waters with a six-piece combo, then pulls him into the studio the next day and says, read more...


The Greatest Drummers of The Southern Rock Era

by Michael Buffalo Smith   1. Jakson Spires of Blackfoot    In my opinion,


Eddie Hinton Does Porretta--Again!

by Penne J. Laubenthal Eighteen years ago in April of 1991 an Italian named Graziano Uliani, founder of the


Top 25 Songs of The Southern Rock Era

by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Freebird - Lynyrd Skynyrd     As if there was any doubt read more...


The Greatest Vocalists of The Southern Rock Era

    by Michael Buffalo Smith  


The Top Ten Guitarists of the Southern Rock Era

The Greatest Guitar Slingers of The Southern Rock Era by Michael Buffalo Smith


GRITZ Southern Rock Lists

  SWAMPLAND'S SOUTHERN ROCK LISTS


Capricorn Records Discography 1969 - 1979

  CAPRICORN LABEL ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY Number - Title - Artist [Release Date] (Chart) read more...


Gritz Legends of Southern Rock

A handful of bands from the Southern Rock Era have earned the title of  "Legend."  These are the bands that defined the genre and set the bar for all other bands in their wake. These are the few, the originals, the Legends of Southern read more...


Legends of Southern Rock: ZZ Top

by Michael Buffalo Smith "ZZ Top was the best band in the world at remaining mysterious for so long. That was part of their appeal. You saw these beards, and they didn’t talk as much as they do these days. There was just a real mystery about them for a long read more...


Jim Dickinson's All-Star Music & Film

In Jim Dickinson’s first contribution to Swampland/Mystery And Manners, he wrote an indelible piece on Memphis barbecue. For his second installment Dickinson cites his favorite pianists, films and a desert island music stash. The High Priest of Memphis read more...


New York City Southern Style: Alabama Studio Weekend in the Shoals

by Penne J. Laubenthal Imagine starting off your Saturday morning with the perfect Bloody Mary, garnished in typical southern fashion with pickled okra, and served to you by one of the country’s foremost clothing designers,


Billy Bob Thornton : Six Degrees of Swampland

YOUR GUIDE TO ALL THINGS BILLY BOB AT SWAMPLAND.COM


Widespread Panic: On The Beach

                                       Widespread Panic: On The Beach 


Record Stores of the Swampland Footprint

ALABAMA CD Cellar Anniston AL Oz Music Tuscaloosa AL ARKANSAS


Guest Blog by Charlie Daniels; Memories of a Friend

Memories of a Friend by Charlie Daniels I have the greatest respect for talented people who can take nothing and make something out of it. Such is the case of the songwriter. He pulls thoughts out of thin air


Th' Legendary Shack Shakers: "Treulogizing the Gothic South"

A review of “The Tentshow Trilogy”, consisting of “Believe”, “Pandelirium” and “Swampblood” (All on Yep Roc Records) by Frank Gutch  


Billy Bob Thornton's Top Ten Southern Rock Albums

by Michael Buffalo Smith In keeping with our ongoing lists of favorite Southern Rock albums, we present the list of actor/musician


Jim Dickinson's Best Memphis Barbecue & Favorite Meals On The Road

When I interviewed the High Priest of Memphis Mojo—Jim Dickinson—I asked him if he’d be interested in submitting his inimitable insight on barbecue, music and movies. Mr. read more...


The Top Ten Albums of Southern Rock According to...

On the heels of my own Top Twenty Five Southern Rock albums, we asked a few of our friends to share their own lists of Favorite Southern Rock albums, and we got a few real surprises,  but one fact read more...


The Top Ten Albums of Southern Rock

Southern Rock’s Top Ten Welcome to a new feature at GRITZ called Southern Rock’s Top Ten, where we will be asking the stars an journalists associated with the genre, as well as some of today’s country music stars, to share


Merlefest at 21, Doc Watson at 85: Festival Notes

A Great American Music Festival And Its Host At The Crossroads by Derek Halsey "In 1934, Dad made me a little home-made banjo,” remembers Doc Watson, on the historic three-CD album of performances and read more...


"Inhale! Inhale! Rock N Roll" by Chris Robinson

INHALE! INHALE! ROCK N ROLL By Chris Robinson Originally Published in New Musical Express July 17, 1993 You pick up the block of read more...


Legends of Southern Rock: Blackfoot

by Michael Buffalo Smith


Big House Benefit a Major Success

Article & Photos by John Charles Griffin The annual Allman Brother's Big House Museum Benefit was a rock'n'roll home run with near-capacity crowd at Macon's Armory Ballroom on Saturday, January 19th despite weather forecasts earlier that day for potential snow with ice read more...


Toy Story

This Ol' Cowboy Lives On: Remembering Toy Caldwell (1999) by Michael Buffalo Smith When Toy Caldwell graduated from Dorman High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the mid-1960's, he knew that he had a steady gig at the read more...


Guest Blog by Dick Cooper: Delbert Needed a Drummer

By Dick Cooper Delbert needed a drummer. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the truth was Delbert read more...


The Garfeel Ruff Story

by Michael Buffalo Smith From the book Carolina Dreams, 1997. When Rick Godfrey was six years old, he was playing the piano at his Grandmother’s house in Greenville, SC. read more...


Darius Goes West: Twelve Guys and a Dream

Once in a great while, just when you think there is no reason to get up in the morning and that there is no hope for humanity, and that people will just go on killing one another forever, and that tomorrow will be probably be even worse than today, then something happens to turn read more...


Legends of Southern Rock: The Outlaws

by Michael Buffalo Smith


Macon Holiday Jam Was a Major Success

by John Charles Griffin Macon, Georgia's 2007 Holiday Benefit Jam was held on on December 21st at Cox Capitol Theatre. The event was a major success that featured music by Randall Bramblett,


The Appalachian Sounds of Fonotone Records

The Appalachian Sounds of Fonotone Records By James Calemine “I went out in the open field/Black snake bit me on the read more...


Billy C Farlow is Having Too Much Fun

by Penne J. Laubenthal Billy C Farlow, blues musician, song writer, and harmonica player who skyrocketed to fame in the early ‘70s with Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, is a force to be reckoned with read more...


Goodbye, Babylon: A Patchwork Quilt of American Music

GOODBYE, BABYLON  A Patchwork Quilt of American Music By James Calemine


Bonnie Bramlett Returns with "Beautiful" On Valentine's Day

by Bill Thames Bonnie Bramlett now becomes the third former Capricorn Records artist, along with Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie), and the Capricorn Rhythm Section, to sign with Rockin' Camel Music of Gadsden, AL.


Southern Rock and Irish Music Join Forces On Tour

Ireland's Best Vocal Group to Tour With Southern Rockers The Winters Brothers Band by Michael Buffalo Smith Talk about a fresh idea.  Ireland's number one ballad and folk group (and holders of eight gold albums) The Dublin City Ramblers have read more...


A Celebration of The Life & Work of Paul Hemphill

A Celebration of The Life & Work of Paul Hemphill By James Calemine "I was ridin' number nine Headin' south from Caroline


West Virginia Music Hall of Fame To Induct First Ever Honorees

Inaugural Class Of Nominees A Diverse Group  by Derek Halsey On November 16th, 2007, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame will induct its first ever class of honorees. Formed in 2005, the Hall of Fame has been building up to these read more...


The 2007 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Report

by Derek Halsey   On October 4th, 2007 the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) held their 18th annual bluegrass music awards show. In a break from past years, when a lot of the same people seemed to win the awards year after year, the read more...


Hughie Thomasson Remembered

The world of Southern Rock lost another champion on September 9, 2007 with the passing of Hughie Thomasson. The founding father of the “Florida guitar army” The Outlaws and a long time member read more...


Danny Brooks: Southern By The Grace of God

Canadian by Birth—Southern by the Grace of God by Bill Thames More than anything else, Danny Brooks is spiritual, but Danny Brooks is soul, too, and deep South gospel tinged with haunting blues. And if you listen close enough read more...


Legends of Southern Rock: The Allman Brothers Band

by Michael Buffalo Smith


The Allman and Oakley Fence Fund Seeks to Protect Grave Sites

by Michael Buffalo Smith There has been an ongoing battle in Macon, Georgia for several years now concerning the grave sites of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley at Rose Hill Cemetery. Over the course of the years, the grave sites have attracted thousands of visitors, and while read more...


Bragg Jam 2007 in Macon: A Photo Retrospective

Macon's  annual Bragg Jam, held on July 28, 2007, was again a stellar success. Bragg Jam always draws a lot of Middle Georgia acts, many who were friends with Brax and Taylor "Tate" Bragg, the brothers the event commemorates. The Bragg brothers were read more...


W.C. Handy Music Festival, Florence, Alabama, July 22-29

“If Beale Street could talk Married men would have to take up their beds and walk…” Beale Street Blues W. C. Handy wrote those words when he was read more...


Memories of George McCorkle

The first time I met George McCorkle, I was bagging groceries at a Community Cash store in Spartanburg, SC. During those days, many of the Marshall Tucker Band and their wives shopped at the store for read more...


The Divine Spark of Sly & The Family Stone

   By James Calemine   


Ed King's Journal: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

ED KING'S JOURNAL: Skynyrd Guitarist's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Blog  


Legends of Southern Rock: The Charlie Daniels Band

by Michael Buffalo Smith


Legends of Southern Rock: The Marshall Tucker Band

by Michael Buffalo Smith "I saw Marshall Tucker in Memphis at the Midsouth Coliseum back in - it must have been ‘73 or ‘74. They were the headliners and the other two acts were The Outlaws and The Charlie Daniels Band. Of course read more...


GABBAFEST 2006

AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT Article and Photos by Bill Thames November 2006   The Georgia Allman Brothers Band Association read more...


2006 Americana Music Conference and Awards

Road Trip to The 7th Annual Americana Music Conference & Awards by Michael read more...


1st ANNUAL GIBSON SUMMER JAM

  by Barry Barnes September 2006   Gibson Guitar Corporation hosted their 1st Annual Gibson Summer Jam celebrating the opening of its new Gibson Custom factory on Elm Hill Pike in Nashville, Tennessee on July 27-29, read more...


Mama Louise's Most Excellent Birthday Jam

Story & Photos by by Bill Thames September 2006 A pessimist might say, “a good deed never goes unpunished,” but last weekend, in a room full of smiling optimists, Gregg Allman told the crowd that, “one shared read more...


Reflections on Willie Nelson: The Complete Atlantic Sessions

WILLIE NELSON: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC SESSIONS …A JOURNEY TO THE RESERVOIR OF AMERICAN COUNTRY & SOUL… by James Calemine “If America had one voice, it would be Willie’s…” - Emmylou read more...


Reflections on Gram Parsons: The Complete Reprise Sessions

GRAM PARSONS - THE COMPLETE REPRISE SESSIONS by James Calemine “In my hour of darkness, in my hour of need Oh Lord grant me vision oh Lord grant me speed.” (from Return of the Grievous read more...


One County Over: Ralph Stanley Sings the Music of the Carter Family

by Derek Halsey May, 2006   AP, Sara, and Maybelle Carter did not invent country music. The music had been evolving in the Appalachian Mountains for generations before the trio made their fateful trip to Bristol, Tennessee in 1927 to record their read more...


Phil Walden Memorial

Phil Was a Capricorn By Michael Buffalo Smith May 2006   Phil Walden, 66, the Capricorn Records founder who launched the careers of Otis Redding and the Allman Brothers Band, died on Sunday, April 23, 2006 after a long read more...


Immortal Blues - In Memoriam: Chris Whitley

IMMORTAL BLUES - IN MEMORIAM: CHRIS WHITLEY 1960-2005 by James Calemine There’s a dirt floor Underneath here To receive us When changes fail May this shovel Loose your trouble Lay them


Larry Rice Memorial

LARRY RICE Bluegrass Musician and Dickey Betts Band Alumnus Dies of Cancer by Derek Halsey April 2006 Larry Rice- Bluegrass Musician and Dickey Betts’ Band Alumnus- Dies Of Cancer We at Gritz Magazine have sad news to read more...


The Georgia Sea Island Singers - Preserving Coastal Music Traditions

The Georgia Sea Island Singers Preserving Coastal Music Traditions By James Calemine Spring 2006 After four decades, Frankie and Doug Quimby continue to travel the world as the Georgia Sea Island Singers, read more...


Road Trip to The Annual Angelus Benefit

by Michael Buffalo Smith & Scott Greene Feb. 2, 2006 Buffalo: I look forward to this every year. The annual pilgrimage from Upstate SC down to Tampa, Florida for Charlie Daniels’ three day read more...


Subdudes Return

subdudes embark on new tour with new album By Richard J. Atkins, Ed.D. February 2006 The subdudes, a New Orleans-based act spanning numerous genres (blues, folk, R&B, country, Cajun, read more...


Marty Stuart Takes Charge of His Music

MARTY STUART TAKES CHARGE OF HIS MUSIC by Derek Halsey February, 2006 Marty Stuart has entered what may be the golden age of his career. He has taken hold of the reins of his musical visions and ideas by starting his own read more...


Lynyrd Skynyrd's Well Deserved Hall of Fame Induction

Would You Still Remember Me? LYNYRD SKYNYRD'S WELL DESERVED HALL OF FAME INDUCTION by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2005 Eight years. Eight long years of read more...


The Jam for Duane: 2005

THE JAM FOR DUANE: 2005 by Mitch Lopate November 2005 Jam For Duane October 27-29 2nd Street Music Hall Gadsden, AL I’m tellin’ ya read more...


Rodney Moag

  Austin's own western swingin', yodel singin', morse-codin', on the roadin', book writin', out-of sightin', college teachin', language speakin', fiddle playin', radio deejayin', pickin' singin', always grinnin', college professor


Mighty Field of Vision Internet and Radio Foundation Started

JOHN D. WYKER HEADS UP INTERNET RADIO STATION Decatur man's Internet station called a 'vision' of the future; music includes oldies, demos By Ronnie Thomas/Decatur Daily, Decatur, Al October, 2005 The read more...


John D. Wyker's Cat Tales - Eddie Hinton

AN EDDIE HINTON CAT TALE October, 2005 In The long, hot, stinking summer of 1984 Eddie Hinton caught a Greyhound Bus back into my hardware store, Hammer Swingin' Life...This was Hinton at his worst...No Nothin'...but a mean read more...


In Memory of Ray Brand

A TRIBUTE TO RAY BRAND   GRITZ Archangel Benefit, May 7, read more...


John D. Wyker's Cat Tales - Dan Penn

A DAN PENN CAT TALE by JD Wyker April, 2005 Conway Twitty's version of "Is A Bluebird Blue" was real important to Dan Penn...or should I say Wallace Pennington..It was the first real money he made as a read more...


John D. Wyker's Cat Tales - Macon & Capricorn Records

Macon & Capricorn Records Cat Tale The year 1969 was a wild and strange and crazy time for me.When the editor of GRITZ asked me to write a Cat Tale about the time I spent in Macon,Georgia I was honored to be asked and to be able to say read more...


Road Trip to The Angelus, 2004

Roadtrip - Charlie Palooza 2004 by Michael Buffalo Smith My fourth trip to the Annual Charlie Daniels Country Concert and Golf Classic to benefit The Angelus House was the best ever - A road trip under sunny skies, quite a drive from read more...


2004 Americana Music Conference

AMERICANA MUSIC CONFERENCE NASHVILLE, TN SEPTEMBER 23-25, 2004 by Michael Buffalo Smith October 2004 The ride up to Nashville was beautiful. The majesty of the Blue Ridge read more...


Americana Late Night

  by Derek Halsey October 2004 One of the cool things about the Americana Music Conference is the nighttime jams that happen throughout Nashville during the week. I arrive on Tuesday night and end up read more...


Road Trip To The Mountains

Road Trip to the Mountains The Appalachian String Band Festival Camp Washington Carver - Clifftop, West Virginia July 27- August 2, 2004 by Derek Halsey October read more...


Mudcat: Shake 'Em On Down

MUDCAT: SHAKE ‘EM ON DOWN By James Calemine October 2004 Daniel “Mudcat” Dudeck sits in a wooden chair on the small stage playing Blind Willie McTell’s read more...


Johnny Neel: Mr. Soul

Johnny Neel: Mr. Soul by James Calemine “Smokestack Lightning Shining just like Gold.” Howlin’ Wolf You can’t teach soul. Johnny Neel ranks as one of the country’s most read more...


Drive-By Truckers: Southern (Dis)Comfort

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS Southern (Dis)Comfort: It’s Only Rock and Roll by James Calemine   I “People need trouble——a little frustration to sharpen the read more...


Duane Allman at FAME Studios: A J.D. Wyker Cat Tale

by John D. Wyker (First appeared in GRITZ Print Issue 7, Summer 2004) This is another Cat Tale about Duane Allman that took place back in the late 1960's at Rick Hall's FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Rick Hall was famous for read more...


The Winters Brothers Stampede Ahead

by Craig Cumberland First appeared in GRITZ Magazine, Issue #7, June, 2004 I didn't come across the Winters Brothers Band until about four years ago - but I tell ya, I love their music. It's inspired to say the least. Unfortunately, they don't have read more...


Capricorn Records

By Russell Hall April 2004 In a business where executives often achieve legendary status, Capricorn Records founder Phil Walden has always been something of an anomaly. Unlike say, Jerry Wexler or Ahmet read more...


The Late Great Townes Van Zandt

A deluge of Townes Van Zandt releases flood the market since his death on January 1, 1997. A bitter legal battles ensues over Van Zandt's prolific song catalogue. Various related projects recently became available such as Norah Jones' Handsome Band: Live 2004, Margaret Brown's read more...


The World Comes Out To Merlefest

THE WORLD COMES OUT TO MERLEFEST By Derek Halsey June 2004 Merlefest Music Festival April 29-May 2, 2004


Hurt: Remembering Johnny Cash

  by Michael Buffalo Smith September 2003 During the last several years of his life Johnny Cash was in severe pain 24 hours a day. For many men it would have meant retiring from the spotlight and into read more...


Bluegrass Rules at the 2003 IBMAs

by Derek Halsey August 2003 The International Bluegrass Music Association’s yearly convention is already a couple of days old when I arrive on Wednesday afternoon on read more...


Remembering June Carter Cash

REMEMBERING JUNE CARTER CASH By Derek Halsey July 2003 On May 18th, 2003, Johnny Cash sat in the pew of the First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee looking as old as he ever has. read more...


Ace Moreland: A Remembrance

Ace Moreland: A Remembrance by Paul Doell February 2003 Ace Moreland’s most recent album (Give It To Get It, released on the King Snake-Icehouse label in 2000) includes a 1998 photo of the lean, lanky read more...


2002 IBMA Bluegrass Awards Roadtrip

IBMA BLUEGRASS AWARDS ROAD TRIP By Derek Halsey December 2002 As I drove into Louisville, Kentucky on this misty October night I reached for the radio dial to see read more...


Tom Dowd Memorial

TOM DOWD The Legendary Producer Dies on October 27, 2002 By Derek Halsey Last May I was invited to be backstage at the Grand Ole Opry as the guest of the excellent country and western singer, Joni Harms, whom I had interviewed read more...


Road Trip to New Orleans

ROAD TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS THE LEGENDARY JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL Report/Photos By Derek Halsey First Appeared in GRITZ, Print issue #2, Fall 2002 New Orleans is a city being rebuilt these days, as Hurricane read more...


O Sister Thou Hath Been There All Along - Women in Bluegrass

O SISTER THOU HATH BEEN THERE ALL ALONG Women in Bluegrass Music by Derek Halsey June 2002 In the documentary/concert movie Down From The Mountain the women musicians are just read more...


Earl Scruggs Family and Friends

Earl Scruggs Family and Friends A WBZI and Cityfolk.org Production Dayton, Ohio April 14,2002 by Derek Halsey The Earl Scruggs Band featuring; Earl Scruggs, banjo and guitar. Gary Scruggs, vocals and read more...


Best Releases of 2001

by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. The Deep End Volume 1 - Gov't Mule What an amazing and unparalleled tribute to the late Allen Woody. Featuring all of his favorite fellow bass players, playing some great music with his band mates Warren Haynes and Matt read more...


John Hartford Memorial

Where Does an Old Time River Man Go? John Hartford Remembered By Derek Halsey December 2001 In the cool autumn air the sounds of the riverboats were everywhere. There is nothing like the whistle of a ship like the Delta read more...


Celebration of Life Event, 2001

On the Road in Florida Celebrating Life in St. Augustine by Michael Buffalo Smith November 1, 2001 The Celebration of Life memorial Concert and benefit was held on October 20, 2001 read more...


Leon Wilkeson Memorial

The Cat in The Hat - Remembering Leon Wilkeson July 27, 2001 "If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me? I must be traveling on now, there's just too many places I've got to see." - RVZ We had been read more...


The Great Molly Hatchet Give Away, 2001

THE GREAT MOLLY HATCHET GIVEAWAY ROCKS LAS VEGAS by Michael Buffalo Smith, 2001 The First Annual "I Love Molly Hatchet" contest wrapped up in Las Vegas, Nevada June 1-3, 2001, with first place winner read more...


John Lee Hooker Memorial

John Lee Hooker (1917-2001) The Man is Gone, But The Boogie Lives On by J.C. Juanis June 21, 2001 The music community lost a great one today, when news of the death of bluesman John Lee Hooker read more...


Bloodkin: Cutthroat Blues

Bloodkin Cutthroat Blues by James Calemine The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.


Best Releases of 2000

My Top CD's of 2000 by Michael Buffalo Smith It's never an easy task to attempt a "Top 40" list. My opinions, like those of everyone else, change with the wind. Still, as a music journalist, I feel compelled at year's end to read more...


Stanley Booth: Can I Get A Witness

Can I Get A Witness The True Adventures of Stanley Booth By James Calemine Winter 2000 Jack Kerouac was a writer. That is, he wrote. Many people who call themselves writers and have their names on books aren’t read more...


Charlie Daniels: Renaissance Hillbilly

Renaissance Hillbilly A Look Inside the Mind of Charlie Daniels by Michael Buffalo Smith October 2000 Not unlike the great state of Texas, Charlie Daniels is a little bit Western and a little bit Southern. read more...


Remembering Eddie Hinton

Remembering Eddie Hinton "A Musician's Musician" by Dick Cooper Winter 2000 Eddie Hinton was a jewel. The many facets of his talent shone independently, and the whole was much greater than its parts. read more...


Farther Down The Road with Taj Mahal

Farther Down The Road with Taj Mahal By James Calemine Taj Mahal remains a craftsman of many musical styles. His career reveals a vast scope submerged within traditions of roots music. This year Columbia released four Taj Mahal read more...


In Memory of Allen Woody

In Memory of Allen Woody October 2, 1956 - August 25, 2000 This is the poem Warren read at the funeral.


Jimmy Farrar: Still Alive and Well

by Scott Greene What do you think the "odds" are of someone who struggled and worked hard to make it in the music business and when they finally made it they walked away for what they consider to be the most important thing in life? Well, that's just read more...


Janis Joplin Remembered

Recollections of Janis Seen Through the Eyes of Big Brother by Sam Andrew Summer 2000 Janis Joplin spent her childhood in Port Arthur, Texas. That town and indeed all of Texas east of Houston is bayou country, read more...


In Memory of Lonesome Dave Peverett

A TRIBUTE TO LONESOME DAVE PEVERETT by Roxane Crutcher Monday afternoon, I received the news of Lonesome Dave from the webmaster of Foghat...it was all I could do to hold back my emotions..."Rox, Just in case you haven't read more...


Johnson Family of Muscle Shoals

A Legendary Family by Dick Cooper, January 2000 Muscle Shoals music is hard to label because of its diversity. It is Rock, Pop, R & B, Country, Jazz, Folk, and most genres in between. While many influential people have come to the area and read more...


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