Right to the Juke Joint: A Personal History of American Music

The cowboy songs and dusty Texas car rides of his youth set Patrick B. Mullen on a lifelong journey into the sprawling Arcadia of American music. That music fused so-called civilized elements with native forms to produce everything from Zydeco to Conjunto to jazz to Woody Guthrie. The civilized/native idea, meanwhile, helped develop Mullen's critical perspective, guide his love of music, and steer his life's work. Part scholar's musings and part fan's memoir, Right to the Juke Joint follows Mullen from his early embrace of country and folk to the full flowering of an idiosyncratic, omnivorous interest in music. Personal memory merges with a lifetime of fieldwork in folklore and anthropology to provide readers with a deeply informed analysis of American roots music. Mullen opens up on the world of ideas and his own tireless fandom to explore how his cultural identity--and ours--relates to concepts like authenticity and "folkness." The result is a charming musical map drawn by a gifted storyteller whose boots have traveled a thousand tuneful roads.

Table of Contents:
CoverTitle PageCopyrightContentsAcknowledgments1. They All Go Native on a Saturday Night: Civilized versus Native in American Vernacular Music2. Yes Indeed: Race, Revival, and Rock 'n' Roll3. Let's Get Dixie Fried: Sexuality, Masculinity, Race, and Rockabilly4. Take Me Higher: Dancing, Drinking, and Doing Drugs5. Blues and the Abstract Truth: From Blues to Jazz6. I Was So Much Older Then: Folk Revival into Rock 'n' Roll7. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down: Bluegrass, Folk Rock, and Outlaw Country8. Come Back to Texas: From "Bogalusa Boogie" to "Soy Chicano"NotesIndex

About the Author :
Patrick B. Mullen is professor emeritus of English and folklore at The Ohio State University. His books include The Man Who Adores the Negro: Race and American Folklore and Listening to Old Voices: Folklore, Life Stories, and the Elderly.

Review :
"Mullen's book is an education for readers with an interest in American roots music. His personal anecdotes and stories help enliven his discussion of his musical heroes, while his insights into the cultural significance of music with traditional roots can enlighten his readers across an expanse of generations." --Ohioana Quarterly "[Mullen's] book is well-written, insightful, and highly recommended for anyone who has found bliss through music." --Journal of American Culture "[Mullen's] book is well-written, insightful, and highly recommended for anyone who has found bliss through music." --Journal of American Culture