Praise For Mississippi John Hurt

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections recently announced the winners of the 2012 ARSC Awards for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research. Receiving recognition in the category for Best Research in Recorded Blues, R&B, or Soul Music was Mississippi John Hurt: His Life, His Times, His Blues, by Philip R. Ratcliffe. 

Mississippi John Hurt (American Made Music Series) is the first biography of the legendary bluesman. Ratcliffe’s story is laced with anecdotes from Hurt’s childhood and teenage years, such as his mother purchasing his first guitar for $1.50 when he was only nine years old and how William Henry Carson taught him how to play the popular tunes of the time. 

Mississippi John Hurt is the only detailed account of this prominent blues musician’s life story. Additionally, some of the last photographs taken of the legendary musician are featured in the book as well other unique documents including U.S. census records, Hurt’s draft certificate, and personal letters written in his own hand. 

The goal of the ARSC Awards Program is to recognize and draw attention to the finest work now being published in the field of recorded sound research. 

Begun in 1991, the awards are presented to authors and publishers of books, articles, liner notes, and monographs, to recognize outstanding published research in the field of recorded sound. In giving these awards, ARSC recognizes outstanding contributions, encourages high standards, and promotes awareness of superior works 

Ntahan Gibson’s The Starday Story: The House that Country Music Built was also recognized by the ARSC with a Certificate of Merit for Research in Record Labels.