Frank Johnson, Joe Thompson and the fiddle in North Carolina
Rhiannon Giddens uncovers the history of African American roots music.
Acclaimed musician Rhiannon Giddens returns to her home state of North Carolina to explore the lives of two black fiddlers: Joe Thompson and Frank Johnson. Johnson was one of the first black celebrities in the Southern states of the US. Born into slavery, he bought freedom for himself and his family on the back of his profits as a musician. More than 2,000 people processed through Wilmington, North Carolina for his funeral in 1871. Though he died before the start of the recording industry, his music was passed down through generations of black fiddlers in the region. The last of these fiddlers was Joe Thompson, who taught Rhiannon countless songs.
Featuring Iris Thompson Chapman, Phil Jamison, John Jeremiah Sullivan and Dr. Lewin Manly.
Presenter: Rhiannon Giddens
Producer: Tom Woolfenden
A Loftus production for 成人快手 World Service
(Photo: Musician Rhiannon Giddens. Credit: Ebru Yildiz)
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Wed 2 Nov 2022 04:32GMT成人快手 World Service except Americas and the Caribbean, Australasia, East Asia & South Asia
- Wed 2 Nov 2022 05:32GMT成人快手 World Service Americas and the Caribbean, Australasia, South Asia & East Asia only
- Wed 2 Nov 2022 11:32GMT成人快手 World Service
- Wed 2 Nov 2022 21:32GMT成人快手 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Wed 2 Nov 2022 23:32GMT成人快手 World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa