Oxford American Winter 2015

GEORGIA ON MY MIND LISTENING The Music of Georgia Editor's Note There's nobody like Blind Willie McTell by Peter Guralnick The moony lyricism of Johnny Mercer by John Lingan Pondering the Indigo Girls, awaiting clarity by Jamie Quatro Da art of storytellin' (a prequel) OutKast's Southern stank by Kiese Laymon FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION INNOVATION Gram Parsons's prophetic Nudie suit by Elyssa East The Skillet Lickers' pickin' picnic by Greg Reish MC Shy D, an original ATLien by Will Stephenson Thomas A. Dorsey unites gospel and blues by Dom Flemons The Road Goes on Forever The Allman Brothers' wild South by Amanda Petrusich THE DIRTY SOUTH SCENES Savannah, metal, and mourning by Bill Dawers Hip-hop and black history in Albany by Regina N. Bradley Atlanta's Sweet Auburn soul by Brian Poust When the fire broke out Life and death in Cabbagetown by Abigail Covington ATHENS X ATHENS Featuring David Barbe, Art Rosenbaum, Patterson Hood, and many others ENLIGHTENED ROGUES LEGENDS Calling Little Richard by David Ramsey Beverly "Guitar" Watkins at seventy-six by Rachael Maddux Bessie Jones, vision and voice by Nathan Salsburg In defense of Dave Prater by Jonathan Bernstein Fiddlin' John Carson's darkest murder ballad by Christopher C. King Ray Stevens remembers a comedy song by Jewly Hight Sugarfoot Stomp The genius of Fletcher Henderson by Cynthia Shearer OH, MAKER VISIONARIES Rico Wade's Dungeon Family reunion by Rodney Carmichael Sharon Jones comes home by Maxwell George In the cosmic mind of Col. Bruce Hampton by Lance Ledbetter Killer Mike turns forty by Austin L. Ray Janelle Monáe looks forward the future by Brit Bennett An Unfinished State Dust-to-Digital's unheard magnum opus by Wyatt Williams POETRY Upbringing by William Wright Talking Drum #1 by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers Tar Road by Nick Norwood Elegy for an Accordion by Chelsea Rathburn The Summer Archivist by A. E. Stallings SONG CREDITS