Big Road Blues by David Evans delves into the often overlooked processes of folk blues tradition and composition, offering a groundbreaking study that reveals the intricate dynamics behind the evolution of this influential genre. Through extensive folkloristic fieldwork, Evans explores the oral traditions of blues singers, tracing how songs are transmitted, learned, and reimagined across generations. This book provides a comprehensive analysis of both the traditional and creative aspects of blues composition, filling a crucial gap in the field of blues research.
Evans focuses on the local tradition of blues in southern black communities, particularly examining the blues tradition in Drew, Mississippi, and its influential musicians like Tommy Johnson and Charley Patton. By correlating fieldwork data with historical recordings, Big Road Blues offers insights into how blues songs have evolved, reflecting both the folk and popular ends of the musical spectrum. This book is an essential read for scholars, folklorists, and anyone interested in the rich cultural heritage of folk blues.
This title is part of UC Press’s Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1982.
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