7 Comments

Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Big Bill Broonzy have had a much bigger impact on popular music than Levon Helm. You could also list two African American classical composers, whose music is being heard more ofter-Florence Price and William Grant Still.

Expand full comment

Damn, that's a good point on Big Bill Broonzy! I don't know his stuff or Rosetta Tharpe's that well. Can you recommend a few songs and I'll put them on today's post?

and truth be told I just really love that version of The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.

Expand full comment

and I agree about Levon's singing and drumming-but he didn't write the song....

Expand full comment

Robbie Robertson approves this comment!!

Expand full comment

Try Broonzy's Hey, Hey and Sister's Didn't it Rain-both on you tube...

Expand full comment

I think it is a bit ironic that states which emphasize personal responsibility somehow have a disconnect when it comes to taking responsibility for one’s own health by being proactive in the wake of a pandemic. How strong are these blinders? Apparently excruciatingly strong.

Expand full comment

Because they have the narrowest possible definition of personal responsibility - one that only views it through the context of government mandates. In other personal responsibility is only a thing that matters if it's exercised in opposition to the government.

Expand full comment