Courtesy of Bob Riesman, I'm now the proud owner of this book of Raeburn Flerlage's photos of the sixties music scene, mostly taken at the Old Town School of Folk Music or the University of Chicago Folk Festival, but also in clubs and elsewhere 1959-1969. Apart from numerous old-time country singers, bluegrass and Cajun bands or "movers and shakers" such as Studs Terkel, Moe Asch, Archie Green, there are many photos of interest to Weenie Campbell members - Fred McDowell, Washboard Sam with Sunnyland Slim, Ed & Lonnie Young, Big Joe, Gus Cannon, Ransom Knowling with Art Hodes, Son House, Bessie Jones, Robert, Shaw, Billy Boy Arnold, Lee Jackson, Walter Horton, and many more. Three quarters of them I'd never seen before and and those that I had I was unaware they were shot by Flerlage bringing about "so that's who took that" moments. The photos speak volumes in all manner of ways and I've been absorbed in it for hours. There's a lengthy and informative essay by Cohen on the life and times of Flerlage. Published by ECW Press, Toronto, 190pps, $24.95 (Cdn)/$24.95 (US).
PS: Bob's covering note mentions that his Big Bill Broonzy biography is to be published by the University of Chicago Press Spring 2011 (if all goes well)! See elsewhere for discussion.
PS: Bob's covering note mentions that his Big Bill Broonzy biography is to be published by the University of Chicago Press Spring 2011 (if all goes well)! See elsewhere for discussion.