Two years ago, I wrote a profile on John Lomax III, the scion of Texas’ (and America’s) first family of music folklore and father of the late journalist John Nova Lomax. At 78, John had made his stage debut, singing songs unearthed by his grandfather, the original John Lomax, his uncle Alan Lomax, his aunt Bess Lomax Hawes, and his father John Avery Lomax, Jr. He told stories about the songs various Lomaxes had found. I dubbed the presentation, Lomax on Lomax.
Now, at the ripe age of 80, John has made his very first record, continuing the Lomax family’s 148-year history of gathering folk songs.
American Folk Music is a solid assay of folk songs popular through the mid-20th century, and a reminder that many of those songs are destined to disappear altogether.
John’s singing for his stage performances has been acapella. The recording, which features musical accompaniment in the forms of Shawn Camp’s fiddle, Richard Bennett’s acoustic guitar, and Vince Farsetta’s mandolin, all brought together by the deft hand of producer Matthew “Buster” Allen (who spent 15 years as Garth Brooks’ engineer), take Lomax to a whole ‘nother level.
“Home On the Range,” one of the first songs captured by the eldest John Lomax, is interpreted by his grandson by singing, then reciting lines, before closing out, joined by a chorus of singers. It’s a sweet whiff of nostalgia, this idea of family and friends gathering together to sing songs, that runs through the album.
Although the 20-song album (27 songs on the digital version) was officially released on Sept. 23, the birth date of John Avery Lomax, Sr., born in 1864, the whole shebang won’t be available until December.
Instead, John has been releasing singles through The Lomax On Lomax Show, starting with “I Was Born 10,000 Years Ago,” “The Cowboy’s Dream,” “Home on the Range,” and “Froggie Went A-Courtin’,” on which Lomax sings 19 verses of the 500-year-old song. “Sloop John B.,” “The Midnight Special,” and “The Virgin Sturgeon” are the next singles released.
“I think I am the oldest American musician to release a debut album,” Lomax says, though he acknowledges England’s Colin Thackery as the world’s oldest having released his first recording at age 89. Regardless of his age, John is doing his part to preserve family tradition.
“This will be the first album of new Lomax recordings since Alan Lomax released Texas Folks Songs 31 years ago,” he says.
