A lot of this seems to be about myths. Writers of antiquity — at least those whose work still is important — created myths. It’s interesting that Dylan is mining these works while at the same time creating myths of his own. Dylan, since he entered our collective...
There is something inherently dishonest and just plain rotten in a politician’s use of a song without the permission of the artist or band. The Trump campaign seems to have an affinity for this. The guy has only run for office twice, and he has managed to antagonize a long list of...
In part one of a two-part conversation with TDMB, Professor Thomas makes a compelling case that Dylan is a genius who carries on in the tradition of Homer, Ovid and Virgil. And he proves that it was deliberate: Dylan’s lyrics contain direct quotes and close paraphrases from the...
My attraction to Doc Watson goes deeper than his guitar playing. There are lots of superb players, many of whom I enjoy. Obviously, Watson is at the top of the heap in terms of skill. But what is even more pronounced in every video I have watched is the deep sense of dignity that Watson...
Malcolm John (Mac) Rebennack Jr. — Dr. John — was an American original who inhabits a special place in our musical heritage. He lived from November 1941 until June 2019. His family’s heritage is German, Irish, Spanish, English and French. The city in which he grew...
Here are some books to check out.
Duke Ellington brought class, sophistication and style to jazz which, until that point, was proudly unpolished and raucous. His story is profound. The author, Terry Teachout, also wrote "Pops," the acclaimed bio of Louis Armstrong. Click here or on the image.
What else is there to say? Here is the story behind every song written by The Beatles. Click here or on the image.
The Grateful Dead don't get enough credit for the profound nature of its lyrics. Many of the band's songs are driven by a deep and literate Americana ("I'm Uncle Sam/That's who I am/Been hidin' out/In a rock and roll band" and "Majordomo Billy Bojangles/Sit down and have a drink with me/What's this about Alabama/Keeps comin' back to me?").
David Dodd's exhaustive study tells the story, song by song. Click here or on the image.
