Celebrate 30 years of the OA.

With original work from Imani Perry, Kristen Arnett, Diane Roberts, and so many others, our Spring Issue honors our past and looks into our expansive future.

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Magazine


Issue 50, Summer 2005

Southern Music Issue Vol. VII

“Does music wield special powers? Reading the pieces in this issue and listening to the songs on the OA CD make me think so.” — Marc Smirnoff, “Pieces of Our Heart”

Features by J.T. LeRoy and Justin Heckert. Roy Blount Jr. remembers Ray Charles. Showcasing the work of Erykah Badu, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Blind Willie McTell, Al Green, and many, many more.

Poetry by James Harmes, Jeff Fallis, and Billy Collins. Photography of Zora Neale Hurston with children.







 

Columns & Departments

 

Editor’s Box
by Marc Smirnoff

 

Gone Off Up North
RAY CHARLES (1930–2004)
by Roy Blount, Jr.

 

Sidebar
A WARNING TO PARENTS
by Jeff Baker

 

Sidebar
JIMMY MARTIN (1927–2005)
by Tom Piazza

 

Southern Scenes
Children with Zora Neale Hurston
EATONVILLE, FLORIDA, JUNE 1935

 


 

Features

 

COAL MINER MOTHER
More than a movie.
by J.T. LeRoy

 

GRAND AMBITION
For some prodigies, all roads lead to a man in Athens.
by Justin Heckert

 


 

Poetry

 

MURMUR R.E.M. 
by James Harms

 

ELVIS SINGS “UNCHAINED MELODY,” JUNE 1977
by Jeff Fallis

 

1967
by Billy Collins

 


 

CD Liner Notes

 

DALE HAWKINS
by Lauren Wilcox

 

HOWARD TATE
by Anthony Doerr

 

RICKY SKAGGS
by John McManus

 

JOHNNIE LEE WILLS
by David Stricklin

 

ZORA NEALE HURSTON
by Paul Reyes

 

LIGHTNIN’ HOPKINS
by Sven Birkerts
by Joe Sacco
by Michael Perry

 

JIM FORD
by Barney Hoskyns

 

RED ALLEN
by David Gates

 

BUBBLE PUPPY
by Brett Milano

 

JOHNNY WINTER
by Andrew Hudgins
by Michael Parker

 

COWBOY JACK CLEMENT
by Matt Dellinger

 

THE DEZURIK [DeZurik] SISTERS
by John Biguenet

 

MOONDOG
by Daniel Alarcón

 

BESSIE SMITH
by Carol Ann Fitzgerald

 

HELEN HUMES
by Lisa Tucker

 

NAT KING COLE
by Kevin Canty

 

ERYKAH BADU
by Ta-Nehisi Coates

 

ERMA FRANKLIN
by Arthur Kempton

 

THE WILBURN BROTHERS
by Warren Zanes

 

SAMMI SMITH
by David Cantwell

 

BLIND WILLIE McTELL
by William Gay

 

JOE TEX
by Charles D’Ambrosio

 

AL GREEN
by Susan Straight
by Jeff Sharlet

 

THE PILGRIM TRAVELERS
by Robert Darden

 

ATOMIC BOOGIE
by Lindsey Millar

 

ELVIS PRESLEY
by Alan Light

 

BUDDY HOLLY
by Don McLeese

 


Photograph of Elvis by Virgil Apger