Out of the Many, the One
The story of the pioneers of American roots music explores Hawaiian music, Cajun music and Mississippi John Hurt's blues.
A look at the influence of Hawaiian music and more specifically, the steel guitar, which became a central sound to a range of musical styles. When Joseph Kekuku picked up a metal bolt as he wandered down a train track, the bolt hit the strings of his guitar and the sound was born. He perfected his slide to create a new instrument that would travel the world.
The programme continues with an exploration of Cajun music, the blended music of Louisiana that reflects the winding landscape of the bayous. This appealed to the record companies as something set apart from the established genres of country, jazz and blues. Central to the scene were the Breaux family, who talk about continuing their musical heritage today.
Finally we hear the story of Mississippi John Hurt - discovered in the 1920s but soon forgotten, he represents the odyssey of American Epic in microcosm. After travelling to Memphis where his music was recorded, he returned home to Avalon, a tiny spot on the map of Mississippi. With the Depression, recording in the south came virtually to a halt and Hurt simply went back to sharecropping, his music forgotten by all but a few dedicated collectors. 35 years after those first recordings, folklorist Dick Spottswood tracked down Hurt in 1963, sparking a revival of his music. He starred at the Newport Folk Festival and became celebrated all over the world.
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Clips
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Into Space with Blind Willie Johnson
Duration: 03:25
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Joseph Kekuku and the Steel Guitar
Duration: 03:02
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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00:00Brian Eno
Another Green World
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00:03Pink Floyd
High Hopes
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00:17Joe Falcon
Lafayette (Allons A Lafayette)
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00:29Mississippi John Hurt
Louis Collins
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00:33Mississippi John Hurt
Frankie
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00:35Mississippi John Hurt
Candy Man Blues
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00:36Mississippi John Hurt
Avalon Blues
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00:44Mississippi John Hurt
The Angels Laid Him Away
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00:52Blind Willie Johnson
Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Robert Redford |
| Director | Bernard MacMahon |
| Producer | Bernard MacMahon |
| Series Editor | Anthony Wall |
| Producer | Allison McGourty |
| Producer | Duke Erikson |
| Executive Producer | T Bone Burnett |
| Executive Producer | Robert Redford |
| Executive Producer | Jack White |
| Production Company | Lo-Max |
Broadcasts
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