Published in 2017, Soul Survivor: A Biography of Al Green pulls no punches. Writer Jimmy McDonough is known for his close-to-the-bone style where he does not put his subject on a pedestal. If you’ve read his previous books Shakey: Neil Young’s Biography, Tragic...
“I don't hate people. I just feel better when they aren't around.” -- Charles Bukowski Bukowski: Born Into This counts as the first comprehensive documentary on the hard-drinking writer Charles Henry Bukowski. He wrote memorable books such as Post Office, Women, Love...
By James Calemine Reading through Webster’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable today, I realized everyone loves a folk hero. I thought of Georgia folk legends. Charles ‘Ches’ McCartney–known by many as The Goat Man–came to mind. McCartney earned folk hero status before he...
By James Calemine Chris Robinson Brotherhood Charleston Music Hall September, 28, 2017 “There’s a whole lotta dark Before we’re gonna see the dawn…” –Chris Robinson “High Is Not The Top” ….Charleston loves the Chris Robinson Brotherhood… In July, the CRB...
Everyone knows Philadelphia, Mississippi, native Marty Stuart worked as the guitarist for Lester Flatt, Doc Watson and Johnny Cash in his younger years. As time went on, Stuart became his own songwriting-guitar picking force. Stuart’s also a talented photographer. Way...
In 2016, Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for literature. Dylan’s buried film, Renaldo and Clara still remains unreleased. The film hit theaters at the same time as Martin Scorsese’s documentary about The Band called The Last Waltz, in which Dylan made an appearance. I...
I wrote this article about the McIntosh County Shouters for The Bitter Southerner in 2017. (Photo by Ansley West Rivers)
Omnivore Recordings released Leon Russell’s Live In Japan in 2011. The original performance was recorded in Japan on November 8, 1973, at Nippon Budokan Hall. This rare album also contains seven previously unissued live performances recorded in Houston, Texas, on...
I just finished The Redeemers, a fine book by Mississippi writer Ace Atkins…. Born June 28, 1970, in Troy, Alabama, Ace Atkins played football at Auburn University, and even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1993 when Auburn won the National Championship....
By James Calemine Born in New Orleans during 1925, Elmore Leonard ranks as one of America’s finest writers. His family soon moved from the Crescent City to Detroit when he was a child, and Leonard never moved away from the Motor City. Author of 45 novels, Leonard...