Library Rock's Backpages

The Original Soul Man: Josh White

Anthony Heilbut, Los Angeles Times Book Review, 29 December 2002

WHEN ELIJAH WALD first mentioned Josh White to his parents, their memories clashed. His father recalled an earthy laborer, sweating soulfully; his mother, a sleek entertainer who changed his silk shirt twice during a performance. The greatest strength of Wald's Josh White: Society Blues is its recognition that this division was intrinsic to White's career and that its balance of folk art and show business was singular, inspired and even heroic.

Total word count of piece: 2875

Subscribe

Becoming a member is easy. Membership gives you access to all the thousands of articles in the library.

Click here to go to Subscribe page.

Click here for academic and other group subscriptions.