Alabama Folklife Association
Editor
Title:
Publisher:
Format:
Price:
 Henry Willett
In the Spirit: Alabama's Sacred Music Tradition
Alabama Folklife Association
book, 128 pages plus CD
$15
A very nicely done collection edited by Henry Willett, featuring essays on shape-note singing, Dr. Watts hymns, Psalm singing, bluegrass gospel, a cappella gospel quartets, moaning, and more. Comes with a CD of related music. Articles include:
"The African-American Covenanters of Selma, Alabama" by Henry Willett
"The Moan-and-Prayer Event in African-American Worship" by Willie Collins
"Singing 'Dr. Watts': A Venerable Hymn Tradition Among African Americans in Alabama" by Joyce Cauthen
"Sand Mountain's Wooten Family: Sacred Harp Singers" by Buell Cobb
"Judge Jackson and the Colored Sacred Harp" by Henry Willett
"The Deasons: A Christian Harmony Family" by Anne H. F. Kimzey
"Seven-shape-note Gospel Music in Northern Alabama: The Case of the Athens Music Company" by Charles Wolfe
"Shape-Note Gospel singing on Sand Mountain" by Joyce Cauthen
"Of Related Interest--Convention Gospel Singing in Alabama" by Fred C. Fussell
"Community and the Jefferson County, Alabama, Gospel Quartet Tradition" by Doug Seroff
"Cry Holy Unto the Lord: Tradition and Diversity in Bluegrass Gospel Music" by Jack Bernhardt
"Of Related Interest--Margie Sullivan: Mother of Bluegrass Gospel" by Erin Kellen.
Editor
Title:
Publisher:
Format:
Price:
 Joey Brackner
Tributaries - issue no. 3
Alabama Folklife Association
book, 96 pages
$8
An interesting issue of the Alabama Folklife Association's "Tributaries" journal, with articles on the regions traditional graveshelters, geophagy (aka dirt eating) among African-American farmers in Montgomery County, folklore of the Piney Woods region, and more.

Contents:
"Southern Graveshelters and English Lych-Gates" by Gregory Jeane
"The Skylines Farms Band Plays for President and Mrs. Roosevelt" by David Campbell
"The Piney Woods Regional Folklife Project" by Carolyn Ware
"'That Dirt Was Good': Geophagy in Alabama's Black Belt" by Patrick McIntyre
book and record reviews.
Editor
Title:
Publisher:
Format:
Price:
 Joey Brackner
Tributaries - issue no. 5
Alabama Folklife Association
book, 142 pages
$10
A high quality collection of articles focusing on Alabama's contributions to the blues, including:

"The Life and Death of Pioneer Bluesman Butler 'String Beans' May" by Doug Seroff and Lynn Abbott
"Butler County Blues," (the first of a two-part article [pt. 2 is still "in the works"] on the legendary Ed Bell) by Kevin Nutt
"Tracking Down a Legend: The 'Jaybird' Coleman Story" by James Patrick Cather
"A Life of the Blues" by Willie King, with photo essay by Axel Kustner
"Livingston, Alabama, Blues: The significance of Vera Ward Hall" by Jerrilyn McGregory
"A Vera Hall Discography" by Steve Grauberger and Kevin Nutt
"Chasing John Henry in Alabama and Mississippi" by John Garst