Preston Lauterbach's Blog, page 5
December 19, 2011
The Chitlin' Circuit Honored
The Wall Street Journal named The Chitlin' Circuit and the Road to Rock 'n' Roll as one of the ten titles on its Best Non-Fiction of 2011 list. Ditto, Boston Globe critic Kate Tuttle.
November 3, 2011
Update, 508 Park Avenue, Dallas, Site of Robert Johnson’s Last Session
UPDATE, 1/19/2012 Old news, but good news. This site will become The Museum of Street Culture, something every city needs! I think these are still the only photos of the inside to have been published. Here’s a photo tour of the building where Mississippi bluesman Robert Johnson recorded in summer 1937. At that time, the [...]
Update, 508 Park Avenue, Dallas, Site of Robert Johnson's Last Session
UPDATE, 1/19/2012 Old news, but good news. This site will become The Museum of Street Culture, something every city needs! I think these are still the only photos of the inside to have been published. Here's a photo tour of the building where Mississippi bluesman Robert Johnson recorded in summer 1937. At that time, the [...]
508 Park Avenue, Dallas, Site of Robert Johnson's Last Session
Here's a photo tour of the building where Mississippi bluesman Robert Johnson recorded in summer 1937. At that time, the building housed the regional offices of Brunswick Records. It's believed that Johnson cut sides like "Hell Hound on My Trail" and "Me and the Devil Blues" in Brunswick's third floor warehouse, distribution facility. The building [...]
November 2, 2011
The Boston Chitlin' Circuit
Check out Noah Schaffer's nice piece in the Boston Phoenix about Skippy White's Chitlin' Circuit record shops.
October 11, 2011
Chitlin' Circuitry Sparks in October
October is shaping up to be a big month for The Chitlin' Circuit. I really wanted to make some awful pun involving rock 'n' roll and October, but just can't quite seal it. Anyhow, ample opportunities to hear about the book in person await you. They kick off on Beale Street and culminate at Rhodes [...]
October 7, 2011
100 Men Hall
As much as I enjoy griping about the failure to preserve chitlin' circuit/black history landmarks, I am much happier to learn about a successful restoration. 100 Men Hall in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi was slated for demolition after sustaining damage in Hurricane Katrina. Thanks to the efforts of Jesse and Kerrie Loya, the Hall is [...]
October 4, 2011
A couple of James Brown's Show Biz Secrets
According to Beale Street hustler extraordinaire Pedro Lewis. This interview took place after The Chitlin' Circuit was in production, and I don't see this fitting into the Beale Street book, so here are a few tidbits about James Brown's stage schtick, courtesy of an artist who performed on the road with the Godfather. Pedro was [...]
September 28, 2011
Beale Street Stories: Sweet Willie Wine
I'm deep into the Beale Street story and finding much delicious dirt. I'll share little sprinkles here and there, keeping the richest of it for the book. One of the great characters of Beale Street lore is Sweet Willie Wine. He worked the street as a booster, pickpocket, and con man, got locked up in [...]
September 16, 2011
Chitlin' Circuit Radio update
Please turn on and tune in to WNYC's Soundcheck this afternoon. I'll be on at 2:20 EST, discussing the pioneer and fallen hero of the chitlin' circuit, Walter Barnes. Also, a segment on the chitlin' circuit aired yesterday on World Cafe with David Dye. It features an interview with circuit sounds from Barnes [...]
