Season 1, Episode 4 // Hang Your Head and Cry

Featured in this Episode:

Blind Blake - “Diddie Wa Diddie” (12:23)

Woody Guthrie - “Ramblin Around” (23:46)

Doc Watson - “Blue Railroad Train” (49:00)

Justin Townes Earle - “Lone Pine Hill” (1:08:23)

Teaser:

A North Carolina murder ballad turned folk tale withstands the tests of time, the true story is still up for debate today. The most distinct blind guitar player to take sounds from ragtime piano and transfer it to guitar, though his life was a short mystery.   A folk singer from Oklahoma becomes the voice of social justice, poverty and failed politics for generations after him. A flat picking blind Appalachian turns the guitar from a background rhythm instrument into a lead in bluegrass, country and folk music during the 60’s, and becomes a pioneer of country blues. Born in the shadow of his father, a young man rises into Americana stardom on his own from a lyrical conviction that many songwriters never acquire, another gone too soon.

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"Shine A Light": David Holt’s State of Music on PBS

Source Credits:

#1: True West Magazine | NPR | Kronsell.net - Legend and Facts

#2: Oldies | All About Blues | Slim Pickens & Dr. Baz

#3: WoodyGuthrie.org | The New Yorker | Texas Observer 

#4: Docs Guitar | NC History | NY Times

#5: Westword | First Avenue | Rolling Stone | GQ