Winner: Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) 2001, Best Book on the Performing Arts
"An estimable achievement." -The Washington Post
"A more complete and fair book than I would have believed possible." -Pete Seeger
"Elijah Wald has lovingly woven into this important biography the personal histories and social circumstances that meshed to produce White's music, and the dramatic milieu that sustained it. I treasure this book . . ." -Al Young
"Highly recommended." -Library Journal
"The best book on American music I've read in years." -Dave Van Ronk
Josh White: Society Blues traces the career of the great folk-blues singer, from his days as a "lead boy" for traveling blues performers to his success in New York playing on Broadway and in cabarets in the '30s and '40s, the collapse of his career in the McCarthy Era, and his triumphant return in the '60s. Through the twists and turns of White's life, Society Blues shows the evolution of the blues and folk revival. It is a must read for anyone interested in the history of American popular culture, as well as a fascinating life story.
ELIJAH WALD is the author of Narcocorrido: A Journey into the Music of Drugs, Guns, and Guerrillas
Excerpt
Josh would eventually appear on several network shows, but it would take many years; Oscar Brand recalls being forbidden to use him as late as 1963. At that time, Brand was the music director of Exploring, an NBC children's program. Though he had also been blacklisted, Brand was working only behind the scenes and therefore not attracting much attention. Getting a questionable performer's appearance on screen was trickier.
"I couldn't get Josh on for love or money," Brand says. "And the fellow who was running the show was an honest, straightforward, marvelous guy. I was able to get other people who were considered troublesome, controversial. I put Theo Bikel on it; Dyer-Bennet I tried to get on it, but he refused for the money I was able to offer. But Josh I couldn't get on. He was considered a troublemaker. I caused some difficulty with what they called the 'Continuity Acceptance People' - that's a lawyer who has a copy of Red Channels."
Brand has no doubt that race played a major role in Josh's remaining persona non grata. "He was too proud," Brand says. "An uppity Negro. That was the description of Josh White. And they knew who Josh was. He wasn't small enough; like I got Phil Ochs on. Now, Phil was much more radical than Josh, but they didn't know Phil Ochs."