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The Story of John Henry (intro)by Josh White
The Story of John Henry (intro)
Josh White
First Spin
Last Spin
- Nov 23, 2022
19:01 PMMade his first recordings in 1928 at the age of 14: blackhistorynow.com ; earlier in his life, in 1921, Josh's father was dragged out of the house by five sheriff's deputies, beaten, and dragged by a horse through town to jail. He would spend the next nine years in a mental institution, until he died. Josh was 8 years old then, and started traveling and playing music with itinerant blind minstrel John Henry "Big Man" Arnold: www.culturalequity.org ; he appeared on Broadway in 1940 as Blind Lemon Jefferson in the play "John Henry," which was loosely based on this songGreg Vandy