Minstrel of the Appalachians: The Story of Bascom Lamar Lunsford

First, a disclaimer: I am the great-niece of Bascom Lamar Lunsford and have owned this book since its first publication. I recently purchased it on Amazon for a friend who wanted to know more about the history of folk music before it gained popularity in the 1950's and 60's. This is a comprehensive and very readable biography of the folk collector and impresario who "would cross hell on a rotten log" to find a song. It is very thorough, an easy read and includes supplemental material listing the incredible range of musical diddies, ballads and classics that Lunsford rescued from obscurity in the early 20th century. It is written by a scholar who hails from the same Appalachian region as the subject and so contains valuable insights and access. Although folk music is by definition the voice of the under represented and oppressed, Jones mostly steers clear of the larger political issues and focuses on Lunsford's life and methodology. This volume is essential for anyone interested in the history of Folk and Americana.

During ancestry searching, I discovered I'm distantly related to Bascom Larmar Lunsford. Of course, I had to order the book. Born in 1882 in Madison County, North Carolina he was known as “The Minstrels of the Appalachians, In addition to being a musician himself, Lunsford made a career of preserving the folk heritage of the Appalachian mountains. At Mars Hill College in North Carolina, the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival is held each fall. Videos of Lunsford singing and clogging can be seen on YouTube.

AS it is about one of my ancestors!!!!!! My cousin has been doing the genealogy, and also found Will Rogers and Cherokee chief Sequoyah.

Great history