Book
Biography of a phantom : a Robert Johnson blues odyssey / Robert Mack McCormick ; edited by John W. Troutman.
"This long-lost manuscript from musicologist Mack McCormick features research on blues icon Robert Johnson's mysterious life and death, and became as much of a myth as the musician himself"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781588347343 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: 232 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm
- Publisher: Washington, DC : Smithsonian Books, 2023.
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Search for related items by subject
| Genre: | Biographies. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookstown Branch | 782.421643092 Johns-M | 31681010317550 | NONFIC | Available | - |
- Baker & Taylor
Publishing the renowned musicologistâs work for the first time, including 40 unseen black-and-white photographs documenting his search, this compelling biography of blues icon Robert Johnson reconstructs his mysterious life and develops theories about his untimely death at the age of 27. Illustrations. - Baker & Taylor
"This long-lost manuscript from musicologist Mack McCormick features research on blues icon Robert Johnson's mysterious life and death, and became as much of a myth as the musician himself"-- - Random House, Inc.
NEW YORK TIMES CRITICS' PICK OF 2023
The drama of In Cold Blood meets the stylings of a Coen brothers film in this long-lost manuscript from musicologist Robert âMackâ McCormick, whose research on blues icon Robert Johnson's mysterious life and death became as much of a myth as the musician himself
"This is a human and humane book, an insightful exploration of the biographerâs craft. [...]Â McCormickâs book makes you feel what we lost when Johnson died young."Â âNew York Times
"Reads like noir fiction. It's a detective story riddled with fatalism and ambiguity carried out by someone who, like the archetypal noir hero, isn't a detective but an ordinary guy in a dismal, often violent setting searching for what can't be found."
âWall Street Journal
When blues master Robert Johnsonâs little-known recordings were rereleased to great fanfare in the 1960s, little was known about his life, giving rise to legends that he gained success by selling his soul to the devil. Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey is musicologist Mack McCormick's all-consuming search, from the late 1960s until McCormickâs death in 2015, to uncover Johnson's life story. McCormick spent decades reconstructing Johnson's mysterious life and developing theories about his untimely death at the age of 27, but never made public his discoveries. Biography of a Phantom publishes his compelling work for the first time, including 40 unseen black-and-white photographs documenting his search.
While knocking on doors and sleuthing for Johnson's loved ones and friends, McCormick documents a Mississippi landscape ravaged by the racism of paternalistic white landowners and county sheriffs. An editor's preface and afterword from Smithsonian curator John W. Troutman provides context as well as troubling details about McCormickâs own impact on Johnsonâs family and illuminates through McCormickâs archive the complex legacy of white male enthusiasts assuming authority over Black peopleâs stories and the history of the blues.
While Johnson died before achieving widespread recognition, his music took on a life of its own and inspired future generations. Biography of a Phantom, filled with lush descriptive fieldwork and photographs, is an important historical object that deepens the understanding of a stellar musician.
