How the failed search for a silent film uncovered a lost musician of the Harlem Renaissance

[rostasi]

In Old Kentucky

[JSngry]

Now that's a story!!! 

[ghost of miles]

Amazing. Thanks so much for posting that.

[medjuck]

Wow!  Great story. 

[AllenLowe]

honestly I am not sure this is really such  a significant find, being as there were many such figures in various places in the USA, and we have no documentation of what the music was like (and 1919 is really not that early in terms of our knowledge of pre-jazz, given the work that has been done on Jelly Roll Morton, Sweatman, Europe, others). I will re-read the story, though, since I've been rushing around.

One thing also - William Pierson has pointed out that the original Klan dress was modeled on African examples of tribal dress. I wonder if these hooded riders were similar in reference and intent.