Author Topic: Mack McCormick R.I.P. (Read 2788 times)

Stuart · « **on:** November 23, 2015, 03:45:13 PM »

From Tony Russell via the PWBG:

"News just in, which some of you may not have received yet, that Mack McCormick died on November 18. This is a huge loss, both to vernacular music scholarship and to those who knew Mack as a friend.

TR"

And via Mary Katherine Aldin:

http://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/rip-mack-mccormick/

Fkeller · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2015, 05:04:44 PM »

One of the most amazing experiences of my life was spending a weekend with him in May of 2014. He'll be missed. One hopes his legacy will live on and grow.

Bunker Hill · « **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2015, 11:09:08 PM »

Extremely lengthy interview conducted by John Nova Lomax but stick with it

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2015, 03:10:10 AM »

Sad to hear this news. Thanks Mack, for everything you've done for the blues.

The Mack McCormick Archive Foundation states that at this time the fate of McCormick's vast unpublished archives remains uncertain.

tinpanallygurl · « **Reply #4 on:** November 24, 2015, 12:27:55 PM »

No one should think that anything is going to change involving the availability of his research. His research isn't going to be donated to a university or made available to the public. We all clearly read where his daughter will be wanting top dollar for his research though there are only a few thousand people who listen to old country blues. Not everyone who loves to listen to these wonderful musicians actually care about the research, they are in it for the music which is just fine. It further reduces the money available. Some researchers feel they have spent enough of their money doing research and being the trailblazers we so admire, and rightfully so. Unfortunately the money isn't there. It will likely collect dust for the foreseeable future.

wreid75 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 24, 2015, 12:38:14 PM »

RIP, here is to a job well done. Life wasn't easy for Mack but he battled through his demons to collect a mountain of research and made the most of his time on this lil blue ball as he possibly could. Agree with tinpanallygurl though, Susannah McCormick was quite hysterical when she posted some months ago. However, if there is a zillionare on here looking to drop a couple of hundred thousand she might let it go.

tinpanallygurl · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2015, 12:43:51 PM »

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 12 at 12:30 p.m. at Dignity Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079; 281/497-2210. - See more at: http://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/rip-mack-mccormick/#sthash.vrGjOOig.dpuf

oddenda · « **Reply #7 on:** November 25, 2015, 02:19:41 AM »

I am a pessimist and expect his shit to end up in some dumpsters because nobody REALLY gives a damn in the grand scheme of things. I know that feeling!

pbl

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #8 on:** November 25, 2015, 03:32:08 AM »

Quote from: oddenda on November 25, 2015, 02:19:41 AM

I am a pessimist and expect his shit to end up in some dumpsters because nobody REALLY gives a damn

His shit? I know how you feel but don't understand such a comment, particularly from a fellow blues scholar.
I really care and I know a lot more people too, especially on this site. Isn't there something Weenie Campbell could do (join forces, contact Peter Guralnick who had acces to his archive etc.) or am I being to optimistic?

I can't believe it was actually Mack who unplugged (during rehearsal) Bob Dylan and the Butterfield blues band at Newport. I always thought it was Pete Seeger.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/RIP-Mack-McCormick-The-man-who-unplugged-Dylan-6655232.php#photo-9014357

frankie · « **Reply #9 on:** November 25, 2015, 05:07:45 AM »

Quote from: oddenda on November 25, 2015, 02:19:41 AM

I am a pessimist

Quote from: harry on November 25, 2015, 03:32:08 AM

am I being to optimistic?

You had to ask?

Mr.OMuck · « **Reply #10 on:** November 25, 2015, 10:38:42 AM »

A hundred Gs ot so is chump change for the U of Texas for example, but she's going to have to let people SEE what's in there!
Sorry about Mack. Perhaos he made provisions for his archive?

Stuart · « **Reply #11 on:** November 25, 2015, 11:20:20 AM »

I just hope that Mack didn't suffer. I've seen first hand what esophageal cancer does to a person and it's not a pretty picture.

Stuart · « **Reply #12 on:** November 25, 2015, 08:26:17 PM »

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/26/arts/music/mack-mccormick-student-of-texas-blues-dies-at-85.html

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #13 on:** November 26, 2015, 06:39:41 AM »

Alex LaRotta Presents "Finding Mack McCormick"

uncle bud · « **Reply #14 on:** November 26, 2015, 07:49:32 AM »

http://observer.com/2015/11/remembering-mack-mccormick/

Shovel · « **Reply #15 on:** December 03, 2015, 07:46:17 AM »

Very sad news. A heartfelt thank you to Mack.

Gilgamesh · « **Reply #16 on:** December 04, 2015, 05:09:37 AM »

Mack was one of the early, passionate supporters of the blues, back when you were looked at as crazy for suggesting that the blues was an art form. Nowadays, you're looked at as crazy for suggesting it is NOT an art form. He played a role in that transformation, I think.

He was very active and productive in the 1960s, before he started seriously researching Robert Johnson. Is it possible that an obsession with Johnson contributed to his bipolar disorder? Because it appears the last 40 years of his life were remarkably unproductive.

wreid75 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 22, 2015, 08:38:20 AM »

"nobody REALLY gives a damn in the grand scheme of things. I know that feeling" The percentage of people who want to dig through that is small but dedicated but that won't matter. This will all come down to Ben Franklin and his dead president friends. Most people on this site will die of old age before this research is made available. She "Macks daughter" also tolls this site so I guess this type of conversation is counter productive. About UT being interested.........................they are but not willing to pay any money for it. Most of their collections are donation oriented. A&T is the same, I have friends in both institutions. Sorry

oddenda · « **Reply #18 on:** January 04, 2016, 01:02:34 AM »

And now the fun begins.

pbl

wreid75 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 04, 2016, 06:23:23 AM »

I have contacted several people who work within several Universities in Texas to gauge interest in a collection like Macks and if they would be willing to pay the McCormick family for Macks life work. No less than 10 would love to have it, and several would pay to have it digitally archived and available to the public within a few years time. All however said that there isn't much money for anything like this and that this is usually donated. The list below are collections that have been rejected in recent years by the schools I have contacted because they wouldn't pay anything for the collections. There were quite a few more but those were off the top of their heads. Now if a group of people put money up to buy it then donate it that might work. I think most people are unfortunately "over" his collection. Thank god we got what we did on L.V. and Geechee. That is all we will likely get. Who knows, our grand children might score but will any of them care?

Howard Hughes, Robert Woodrow Wilson, Bob Willis, Charlie Wilson, Scott joplin, Barbara Jordan, Earnest Tubbs, J.P. Richardson Audie Murphy, Bessie Coleman, Rube Foster

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2016, 07:03:49 AM »

wreid75, did you try to contact Alex LaRotta (Professor of History, Lone Star College, Houston)?

wreid75 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 04, 2016, 11:16:41 AM »

Quote

did you try to contact Alex LaRotta (Professor of History, Lone Star College, Houston)?

No, I don't know her but it would be worth looking into I guess. I would love for a school to find a wealthy booster or to get some grant to pay the McCormick money for his work. If a school won't pay money for Howard Hughes journals/papers/etc I can't imagine they would spend money on research about obscure black musicians that only a few thousand people in the world even listen to.

Stuart · « **Reply #22 on:** January 04, 2016, 11:38:40 AM »

To say that money is tight for acquisitions and processing at public universities is an understatement. Some libraries--university and public--won't even accept donations of materials as the money for the evaluation process isn't even there. It's the world we live in.

I hope that Mack's materials are preserved and made accessible and available at some point. After all, they document and important part of American culture--and they represent a life's work.

As something almost unrelated, did anyone read the following? ("According to some estimates, as much as two million tons of returned items ? most of it undamaged merchandise ? are thrown away each year, enough to fill over 200,000 garbage trucks.") Talk about a world that has lost its way.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/29/business/in-season-of-returning-a-start-up-tries-to-find-homes-for-the-rejects.html

wreid75 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 04, 2016, 01:52:28 PM »

imagine if that was being given to those in need

Rivers · « **Reply #24 on:** January 04, 2016, 04:48:01 PM »

The irony is inescapable Stuart. The last time I lit the stove, last week I think, with the Sunday edition of the NY Times, I couldn't help but notice it was stuffed full of ads for the very highest end perfumes, jewellery, watches, clothing, you name it.

Vote Bernie for president.

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #25 on:** January 05, 2016, 03:07:01 AM »

Quote from: wreid75 on January 04, 2016, 11:16:41 AM

Quote
did you try to contact Alex LaRotta (Professor of History, Lone Star College, Houston)?

No, I don't know her but it would be worth looking into I guess.

He gave a lecture on McCormick at the Contemporary Arts Museum january last year. Check out my post earlier in this thread.

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Author Topic: Mack McCormick R.I.P. (Read 2788 times)