Article in local newspaper about Alabama music

[Smitty]

http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_s ... bama-Music?

Here are 28 Alabama musicians you need to hear, as compiled by the staff of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture (Deb Boykin, Joey Brackner, Steve Grauberger and Anne Kimzey) plus Kevin Nutt of the Archive of Alabama Folk Culture at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. They had a hard time narrowing the list down to just 28, to put it mildly.

The list encompasses mostly roots music, as well as historically significant artists, work and genres.

The selections represent very different styles, ethnicities and epochs. If it seems heavy on sacred music, that’s because sacred is really basic to Alabama music.

Many of the documentary recordings are available from www.alabamafolklife.org.

Jerry McCain, “She’s Tough.” This song was famously covered by the Fabulous Thunderbirds (and slightly renamed “She’s Tuff”). Jerry “Boogie” McCain, born in 1930, has played blues harmonica for more than 70 years. He earned the nickname "Boogie" playing harmonica on the streets of Gadsden at the age of 5.

Sullivan Family, “Angel Band.” Margie and Enoch Sullivan of St. Stephens are pioneers of bluegrass gospel music. They have performed together for more than 58 years as the Sullivan Family band, playing for congregations in small country churches as well as entertaining audiences at festivals across the U.S.

Donald Smith and Doug Wyers, “Mercy Seat.” A beautiful acapella duet of this historic hymn.

Pine Hill Haints, “Spirit of 1812.” Quirky, fun, eclectically “folkie.” Based in Florence, they label their genre “ghost music.”

Arthur Alexander, “Go Home Girl.” Alexander deserves a special mention in music history for his influence on the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. It is believed that John Lennon, in particular, was heavily influenced by Alexander's singing style. Alexander is the only songwriter whose songs have been covered by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan (who covered "Sally Sue Brown").

Dexateens, “Down Low.” Best Alabama rock band under 30. This Tuscaloosa band has a lot of buzz.

Dorothy Love Coates and the Original Gospel Harmonettes, “Ninety-Nine and a Half.” Birmingham’s Coates was one of the few great gospel songwriters of the Golden Age. Most of her compositions were later adapted by mainstream soul composers. She was never paid for any of her songs. Also, one of the few gospel people who openly supported the Civil Rights movement.

Eddie Hinton, “Cover Me/Rock of My Soul.” Tortured, Alabama Muscle Shoals session giant and songwriter. Never hit the big time but had the voice and skills with the best.

Famous Blue Jay Singers, “I Am Bound for Canaan Land.” The Blue Jay Singers were founded in Birmingham in the 1920s and often battled the Birmingham Jubilee Singers for primacy in the area. The real story here is the presence of lead baritone Silas Steele. Steele was one of the most influential quarter leads in history. He is credited with developing the testifying preacher-like intros to gospel songs and with being one of the first leads to wander into the audience while singing. This innovation was copied by every other gospel, R&B and soul group to come.

Birmingham Sunlights, “Hallelujah.” The Birmingham Sunlights represent a long-standing Jefferson County tradition of acapella gospel quartet singing. They developed their singing style in the Church of Christ, where no musical instruments are used in worship services.

Swan Silvertones, “Saviour Pass Me Not.” This is the song that put Claude Jeter’s legendary falsetto on the map. Gospel people still talk about this song today. This is where Al Green, Eddie Kendricks and many others picked up their falsettos.

Rev. Alex Fountain, "Tall Angel At the Bar." This is a "ring shout,” a religious dance and song ceremony, which has its origins in West Africa and was an important part of religious practice before emancipation. The participants would line up in a ring and move in a circle, shuffling and never crossing their feet (this was because dancing was prohibited in church). A song leader would provide the chant. Today, ring shouts are rare and happen mostly on the sea islands of South Carolina.

Louvin Brothers, “In the Pines.” The famous brother duet of Charlie and Ira Loudermilk (stage name Louvin) from northeast Alabama performed in the 1940s and ‘50s and influenced countless country musicians. They, along with the Delmores, were especially known for their close harmonies. This song has been covered by several decades’ worth of artists in a number of genres.

Delmore Brothers, “Brown’s Ferry Blues.” One of the more well-known Delmore Brothers songs, a great vehicle for their harmonies, featuring clean, uncluttered flat picking.

Wiregrass Sacred Harp Singers, “Prosperity." This late 18th-century hymn is sung here with a tune written by Reverend Haley Webster Wood and Judge Jackson, two well known, early 20th century African-American Sacred Harp singers from Dale County.

Will Owsley, “Coming Up Roses.” Recorded solo as Owsley and with the Semantics. This power pop star from Anniston died recently but still has a cult following.

Drive By Truckers, “Three Alabama Icons.” The Drive By Truckers are based in Athens, Ga., but three of their members – including Patterson Hood, son of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio founder David Hood– are from northwest Alabama’s Muscle Shoals region. Many of their songs reflect this. Patterson Hood's recitative, "The Three Great Alabama Icons,” describes his own adolescence and understanding of Bear Bryant, Ronnie Van Zant, and George Wallace.

Willie King, “I Like it Like That.” This song by the late West Alabama bluesman can be heard as a call for cooperation among all kinds of people … but a more conventional interpretation also works.

David Davis and the Warrior River Boys, “The Brambles, Briars and Me.” This is a great story song. While the Warrior River Boys have a traditional bluegrass style, their sound is distinctive within that tradition.

Daniel Family Quartet, “Heaven's Jubilee.” The Daniel Family was made up of siblings John and Troy Daniel, who later developed the John Daniel Quartet, well known nationally in the 1940s and 50s on the radio.

James Bryan, “Willow Creek.” James Bryan of Mentone is considered one of the nation’s finest old-time fiddlers. He learned from many of Sand Mountain’s old-time fiddlers. He continues to seek out tunes from old recordings and books and has developed a huge repertoire.

Cast King, “Outlaw.” Cast King grew up on Sand Mountain, where he formed his first band at age 15. An accomplished guitarist and fiddler, he also wrote more than 500 songs. In recent years, until his death in 2007, he worked with Matt Downer, who encouraged him to begin performing again after a 30-year hiatus.

Eric Essix, “Sweet Tea.” Essix is an outstanding jazz guitarist from Birmingham.

Steve Young, “Montgomery in the Rain.” Great song by an Alabama song writer and performer about Alabama places.

Yelawulf, “Box Chevy Part 2.” Well-known white rapper from Gadsden.

Gary Waldrep, “Goin’ To Rocky Island.” Great song by the bluegrass virtuoso from Kilpatrick.

Singers at Antioch Baptist Church, "Arbacoochee.” Sacred Harp tunes were often named in honor of the place in which they were written. Although this hymn was written in 1719 by Englishman Isaac Watts, the tune was penned much later. Arbacoochee, the Cleburne County site of the 1840s Alabama gold rush, is named for a Creek town.

Claire Lynch, “Woods of Sipsey.” Lynch is a Grammy-nominated bluegrass performer and songwriter from Hazel Green.

Almost making the cut: Ashton Shepherd, Ed Bell, Jimmy Hughes, Quadrajets, Man or Astroman?, Sun Ra, Rich Amerson, Beth Nielson Chapman, 63 Boyz, Big Mama Thornton, Al Malone and the Melody Men, David Johnson, Rich Boy, Alison Moorer, Jerry and Tammy Sullivan, Bradley Walker, Shelby Lynne, Original Blind Boys of Alabama, The Stripling Brothers, Gee’s Bend Quilters, Rock Killough, Robert Montgomery, CIO Singers, National Sacred Harp Convention.

Read more: Anniston Star - Unsung heroes The Year of Alabama Music