Ever since the 1930s, when Robert Johnson came to epitomize the
hard-drinking, salacious blues singer who sold his soul to the devil for
prowess on the guitar, blues music has been associated with evil.
Spencer examines this connection from its origins in the myths of the
African trickster-gods to the sensationalism of the music by white
vaudeville promoters and record producers. Spencer challenges the notion
that blues is evil; rather, he claims, it is an attempt to come to
grips with a world ruled by a good god where evil is allowed to exist.
Folklore, mythology, and theology are all used to explain the roots of
this "simple" music. Copious footnotes and an excellent bibliography
enhance this scholarly treatment of an important aspect of African
American culture. Recommended for libraries with strong African American
and folklore collections.
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