
Right to the Juke Joint
A Personal History of American Music
Patrick B. Mullen(Author)
University of Illinois Press
Published on 4. May 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-252-08328-0 (ISBN)
Description
The cowboy songs and dusty Texas car rides of his youth set Patrick B. Mullen on a lifelong journey into the sprawling Arcadia of American music. That music fused so-called civilized elements with native forms to produce everything from Zydeco to Conjunto to jazz to Woody Guthrie. The civilized/native idea, meanwhile, helped develop Mullen's critical perspective, guide his love of music, and steer his life's work. Part scholar's musings and part fan's memoir, Right to the Juke Joint follows Mullen from his early embrace of country and folk to the full flowering of an idiosyncratic, omnivorous interest in music. Personal memory merges with a lifetime of fieldwork in folklore and anthropology to provide readers with a deeply informed analysis of American roots music. Mullen opens up on the world of ideas and his own tireless fandom to explore how his cultural identity--and ours--relates to concepts like authenticity and "folkness." The result is a charming musical map drawn by a gifted storyteller whose boots have traveled a thousand tuneful roads.
Reviews / Votes
"Mullen's book is an education for readers with an interest in American roots music. His personal anecdotes and stories help enliven his discussion of his musical heroes, while his insights into the cultural significance of music with traditional roots can enlighten his readers across an expanse of generations." --Ohioana QuarterlyMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Baltimore
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 226 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
340 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-252-08328-0 (9780252083280)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2018
1st Edition
University of Illinois Press
€38.81
Available for download
Person
Patrick B. Mullen is professor emeritus of English and folklore at The Ohio State University. His books include The Man Who Adores the Negro: Race and American Folklore and Listening to Old Voices: Folklore, Life Stories, and the Elderly.