Monday, December 29, 2008
Church history...
"Church history is, like all other history, an account of what somebody sees, and the account becomes at most a conscientious interpretation. In spite of all effort, the historian must write as he sees with the facts which are at his command." -- Buell H Kazee in The Problem of Baptism in History, 1965, p. 97
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9 comments:
Buell Kazee, in addition to being a Baptist minister and writer, was also a ballad singer and banjo virtuoso, being one of the early recording artists in the early days of country music, first recording in 1927. His playing was a big influence on my own banjo playing, dating back to the late 1970s. I first heard him on the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music, which was also my first recording of Sacred Harp singing! It was fun to see his name here in a different context.
Brad
Interesting. I never Kazee had any folk singing connection. Looking online, I found the following.
Music bio
Religious bio
I recognized the name as soon as I saw it from the early era of recorded music. Back then it was not referred to as "country music." It was either "folk" or "hillbilly." More times than not it was the latter. It was not until the 1950's when the term "country music" was coined by Earnest Tubb. I believe he thought the term "hillbilly" was downgrading to the music and was looking for a milder term.
There are a few clips of Buell Kazee on Youtube that may be of interest.
According to Frank Walker, who was responsible for recording much of the music of that era (Columbia; later Victor), “in those days we never used the word hillbilly…we did not call them country tunes…in those days we called them Old Familiar Tunes.” Al Hopkins, a contemporary of Kazee, led a band called the Hill Billies, which would later become a designation for this type of music. Gennett was starting to use the term at that time, though it was not yet widely accepted. Shortly thereafter, a Western Swing Band from California led by Zeke Manners was called (believe it or not) the Beverly Hillbillies. The designation hillbilly music became more popular in the 30s and 40s. The Delmore Brothers had a song called “Hillbilly Boogie” in the 1940s. I have not found the term Folk Music used as a commercial designation until the late 40s. For a time the terms Folk and Country came to be interchangeable for more commercial forms of Country music. Today folk and country music historians both consider Kazee and his contemporaries to be part of their history. Incidentally, Walker also coined the term “Race Records” as well as another general term for country or folk music, “Songs of the Hills and Plains”
I have heard some Sacred Harp singers object to the term "Folk Music" applied to their music, feeling that it makes it a thing to be studied rather than a living worship tradition.
Brad
Enjoyed those comments. I bet you also knew that the term "bluegrass music" came about totally by accident. It was not used commonly until the 1960's, over 20 years after Bill Monroe created the style. The story goes that since his band was called the Bluegrass Boys, people started calling radio stations to request "one of those bluegrass songs." Up until then it was referred to as country music. Even today, negative images are sometimes conjured up by some when they hear the term, "bluegrass." The question is often asked, "What's in a name?" A whole lot, on many occasions.
It has been interesting to find out about this folk music connection of Kazee. I'm not that familiar with him. My only knowledge heretofore was in connection with some of his Baptist writings.
Thanks.
From Bro. Looneytunes
I knew Bro. Buell Kazee when I lived in Lexington, KY, back in the 1960's. He sometimes did substitute teaching for the Lexington Baptist College, which was Bro. Clearance Walker's Preacher Boy School. It is now out of existence. He was a good preacher and a sound Baptist. You may be familiar with his book "Faith is the Victory." He did a good job.
Bro. looneytuneswy is Joseph L. Looney Gillette, WY
Bro. Looney, thanks for stopping by and commenting. Will look forward to hearing from you more in the future.
I only knew Bro. Kazee by name through his writing. I have a copy of "Faith is the Victory".
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