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.
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.
“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.
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
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
MURMUR R.E.M.
by James Harms
ELVIS SINGS “UNCHAINED MELODY,” JUNE 1977
by Jeff Fallis
1967
by Billy Collins
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