Each year The Oxford American magazine focuses on the musical heritage of a particular Southern state. The first state to be the object of attention was Arkansas. Today, we look at that state’s heritage and find out what it means to be a Southern musician in 2010. Joining us are Marc Smirnoff, the magazine's editor, and Lincoln Michel, who wrote the feature on Arkansas.
Comments [13]
It's refreshing to hear Arkansas included in comments about "southern music." I think most people think Southeast when they think "Southern" - most notably states like Louisiana, Georgia the Carolinas etc.
Little Rock may not carry the same resonance as such places like Tupelo, but there's no doubt in my mind that Arkansas is packed with Southern culture and art.
Little Rock continues to make contributions to the U.S. music industry as described in the feature-length rockumentary "Towncraft: Notes from a local scene". http://www.towncraftmovie.com/ It's no coincidence that Green Day's sound of '92-'94 mirrors teen acts from '88-'90 Little Rock. Perhaps in part that they picked up Jason White of North Little Rock as they passed through a couple of times, and now prominently feature him in the lineup. It's noteworthy too, that The American Princes left Brooklyn to hone their sound in Little Rock recently. And seriously, you didn't know about Helena?!
Johnie Cash was born in Kingsland (pop. ~500) and grew up in Dyess (pop. ~500).
While it's true that Arkansas did give John McCain 60% of its vote in 2008, it's overly simplistic to describe the state as the "reddest of the red." Both of Arkansas's U.S. Senators are Democrats as are three of its four Congressmen. All of the state's constitutional officers are Democrats, and both Houses of the State Legislature have Democratic majorities. Local music is in no way informed by conservative politics.
The Claudia Whitten song is available at the following URL:
http://www.sirshambling.com/artists/claudio_whitten/claudia_whitten.html
Smokin' hot!
Arkansas was one of the biggest states supporting John McCain in the last election. The reddest of red states. Do the conservative politics there inform the music today?
Levon Helm grew up in Turkey Scratch Arkansas, which is described in "This Wheel's on Fire", his autobiography.
Did you forget Levon Helm?
It’s refreshing Mark describe Southern music as belonging to everyone. I’m a member of a band that draws influence from, among other sources, Appalachian folk/spirituals and old Southern blues. The one consistent piece of criticism our band has received in the past has been a lack of authenticity because we are New Yorkers and not backwoods Southerners. We borrow from those cultures just like we do 80’s punk, metal, or hip-hop. There is a common organic energy that transcends all these ‘genres’ and much of Southern music embraces this. Thanks
It’s refreshing Mark describe Southern music as belonging to everyone. I’m a member of a band that draws influence from, among other sources, Appalachian folk/spirituals and old Southern blues. The one consistent piece of criticism our band has received in the past has been a lack of authenticity because we are New Yorkers and not backwoods Southerners. We borrow from those cultures just like we do 80’s punk, metal, or hip-hop. There is a common organic energy that transcends all these ‘genres’ and much of Southern music embraces this. Thanks
If I ever find Jesus, I'm gonna kick his ass.
Ha!
If I had a choice between being "big" in Europe and being "big" in Arkansas, I'd take Europe. No offense to Arkansas. Ditto on the Hayes Carll praise but he only went to college in Arkansas.
I am among a small number of Hayes Carll superfans in NYC. Carll is a Texan country singer, but according to his own admission, he is trying to corner the market on Arkansas songs (he lived in Arkansas for sometime). He's trying to use the dearth of Arkansas music to his advantage I suppose. I believe Hayes Carll is comparable to Waylon Jennings in Waylon's prime. What do you guys think of him (if you've heard his music)?
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