Give My Poor Heart Ease - William Ferris

 Ferris is a Southern white man who has chronicled African-American musicians since the 1960's and in 2009 compiled this book of his interviews with obscure musicians, preachers, and lay folks throughout the south. He tape recorded performances and interviews, video-taped some live music (accompanying the book is a CD and DVD) and took some terrific'n'expressive black'n'white photographs of his subjects. 

In the introduction Ferris takes great pains to explain that he is not a stereotypical southern white and that he grew up with more liberal values through his parents, who employed a number of people of color on their farm. Ferris became fascinated with their stories early on and was happy to discover that he could make a living by chronicling their tales.

There's a large variety of people that Ferris talks with and the tales they tell range from the religious to musical to prison stories to drunken ramblings on all manner of topics. The folks are generally not traditionally schooled, and some have old-school superstitions, but they have passion and they speak freely of their own personal experiences. Sometimes the fact that Ferris only transcribes the speaker and none of his (presumed) prompts, makes it sound like the interviewer is rambling in a non-sequitur-ish way, which, at times, makes the reading a little odd. But, there is a lot of unique narratives that combine to give a strong feeling of the African American experience in the South. Interviews with BB King and Willie Dixon are juxtaposed with transcriptions from drunken house parties, giving a wide spectrum of views.

The CD is a fine collection of down-home blues and the DVD has some great footage of the area, prison life, parties and church services from the 60's and 70's. Sometimes it doesn't flow as easily as it might, but the interviews, photos, films and music makes this package more than worthwhile.