Rosenbaum, Art

Description

Part four of a four-part recording. Art Rosenbaum interviews Doc Barnes in Athens, Georgia. Barnes describes "Jack the Rabbit, Jack the Bear," a song that an Athens railroad chain gang sang. As a boy, he made a homemade instrument out of reed cane, which he leaned to do from an old man named Joe Peelin. Barnes explains how he taught himself guitar after he had been playing piano for years, and became so frustrated learning to play guitar that he sold it. He typically learns songs from hearing others play them. Barnes talks about other Athens-area musicians, including the Rakestraws, and Guy and George Lumpkin[?], who could play any stringed instrument, including autoharp. He talks about guitarists in the area, such as Ronnie Smith, Greg Walker, Junior Walker, Charles Walker, and Charlie Tilton in Watkinsville, Georgia, and Ed Smith. Barnes joined the church in 1924, but already had a lot of experience playing in quartets, due to years with his group The Gospel Pilgrims. The Gospel Pilgrims played around the state, as well as in Florida and South Carolina, and were broadcast by an Atlanta radio station. Their most popular song was "Lord Guide My Feet While I Run That Race." Members of the Gospel Pilgrims include: E.J. Johnson (tenor, first leader), Richard Johnson, Bell Thomas, Henry Grady, and Brady Barnes. Ortha Cooper joined the group later.

Record Contributed By

Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia