From the vault: Read the fascinating story and hear recordings of folk hero Bessie Jones and the legendary Georgia Sea Island Singers:
Bessie Jones, born in Georgia in 1902, dedicated her life to preserving African American history through music. But the gospel and folk legend, perhaps only a household name to those genres’ most well-read fans, wasn’t discovered until relatively late in her life, in 1959 by musicologist Alan Lomax upon his visit to historic St. Simon’s Island, Ga., where she was performing with vocal group Georgia Sea Island Singers.
These rich Ash Grove sets might prove interesting to any casual folk fan, but the story of these Singers goes back farther and deeper than you’d imagine. The group’s geographical origin, the Georgia Sea Islands, aka the Golden Isles, were under Union control during the Civil War and captured as a means to block trade to the South. Plantation owners fled the region, leaving upwards of 10,000 slaves behind. Through the 1930s, the islands remained a hotbed for music and culture.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Heidi Klum, 46, likes to brush her teeth while toplessHeidi Klum, 46, Likes To Brush Her Teeth While Topless (Video) (via Fox411)
Read more »
'Series Regular' Podcast: 'Jessica Jones,' 'Arrow' and the State of Superhero TVAs the Netflix superhero shows come to an end, roundhoward looks forward to the not too distant future of the MCU shows hitting DisneyPlus. Listen to the latest episode of SeriesRegular:
Read more »
Alex Jones hit with sanctions by judge in Sandy Hook lawsuitA Connecticut judge on Tuesday sanctioned right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who is being sued by families of the Sandy Hook victims for his past claims that the 2012 shooting was staged.
Read more »
Father of Sandy Hook Victim Wins Defamation Suit Against Massacre DeniersInfoWars’ Alex Jones also received sanctions in separate lawsuit involving families of Newtown victims
Read more »
‘Tamron Hall’: Syndicated Daytime Talk Show Hires ‘The Wendy Williams Show’s Talia Parkinson-Jones As Co-Exec ProducerSyndicated daytime talk show Tamron Hall has named The Wendy Williams Show’s Talia Parkinson-Jones as co-exec producer. Parkinson-Jones will work closely with former NBC News anchor Hall and exec p…
Read more »