Jazz and Blues Musicians of South Carolina

"Jazz and Blues Musicians of South Carolina compels us to listen deeply to the dynamic passion, diverse array of influences, and the tenacity of ingenuity each interview affirms. Within this reflective work, layers are peeled back in each musician's narrative, revealing elements both emotive and complex, essential to the language of America's original music. Franklin clearly illustrates that South Carolina sings its own unique lyrics in the evolving history of jazz and blues, and that our own lives are interwoven and resonate strikingly from the development of artistry. This work is essential reading for the connoisseur of the creative process."—Harry Skoler, Berklee College of Music

"South Carolina has been the birthplace for a wide range of distinguished blues and jazz musicians, and Benjamin Franklin V is very knowledgeable about many of them. Franklin is a well-informed guide to the musical history of the state, an amiable and engaging conversationalist, and a careful listener. His thoughtful questions and observations always elicit illuminating responses. These candid conversations are a wonderful contribution to the oral history of South Carolina and to the broader literature of blues and jazz studies."—James A. Miller, George Washington University