Overview

"Inside the Texas State Prison is a surprising story of ingenuity, optimism and musical creativity. During the mid-twentieth century, inmates at the Huntsville unit and neighboring Goree State Farm for Women captured hearts all over Texas during weekly radio broadcasts and live stage performances. WBAP s Thirty Minutes Behind the Walls took listeners inside the penitentiary to hear not only the prisoners? songs but also the stories of those who sang them. Captivating and charismatic, banjo player Reable Childs received thousands of fan letters with the Goree All-Girl String Band during World War II. Hattie Ellis, a young black inmate with a voice that rivaled Billie Holiday s, was immortalized by notable folklorist John Avery Lomax. Cowboys, songsters and champion fiddlers all played a part in one of the most unique prison histories in the nation. Caroline Gnagy presents the decades-long story of the Texas convict bands, informed by prison records, radio show transcripts and the words and music of the inmates themselves."""

Full Product Details

9781540213082

Table of Contents

Reviews

"Drawing deeply on prison records, radio show transcripts, and the words and music of the inmates themselves, music writer Caroline Gnagy passionately tells the stories of these men and women musicians who also were inmates in her powerful new book, Texas Jailhouse Music: A Prison Band History (The History Press). Above all, Gnagy is careful to present singers and musicians as real people mothers, fathers, lovers, friends who happen to be behind bars. No Depression In a new book, Texas Jailhouse Music, Caroline Gnagy collects the stories of the men and women who performed on the show and at the annual Texas Prison Rodeo. Gnagy, a writer who herself plays country music, was inspired to do the research after seeing photos of the Goree All-Girl String Band and reading a Texas Monthly story about the group from 2003, O Sister, Where Art Thou? Jennifer Aniston has spent years trying to make a film about the band. The Marshall Project Equal parts historical literature and music journalism, Caroline Gnagy's Texas Jailhouse Music is a poignant work venturing inside the Texas state prison system amidst the Great Depression where inmates often led unexpected lives of musical creativity and expression. Through radio shows (WBAP's Thirty Minutes Behind the Walls) and event performances (Texas Prison Rodeo), prisoners gained ""a sense of accomplishment, belonging to a group, and a fervent hope of release."" While the story remains optimistic, Gnagy gives an unflinching account of prison horrors including solitary confinement and forced female sterilization. Central to the book are the inmates. From cold-blooded murderers to death-row prisoners and petty burglars, all are captivating. http: //www.austinchronicle.com/music/2016-06-17/texas-jailhouse-music-a-prison-band-history/ ""Gnagy shares the stories of blues legends like Dallas' Huddie ""Lead Belly"" Ledbetter, and groups like the Goree All-Girl String Band, who became regional celebrities for their incarcerated performances on WBAP and live shows around the state. Through their music, these inmates were able to share their stories of wrongdoing and redemption far and wide."" Dallas Morning News Sometimes the most interesting books are ones that delve into a subject readers didn t know about and never considered. And except for now-elderly people who were around the right place at the right time, especially during the decade beginning in the late 30s, most of us would be unaware of the existence and details of music programs in Texas prisons, if not for author Caroline Gnagy. Vintage Guitar Magazine """

Drawing deeply on prison records, radio show transcripts, and the words and music of the inmates themselves, music writer Caroline Gnagy passionately tells the stories of these men and women musicians who also were inmates in her powerful new book, Texas Jailhouse Music: A Prison Band History (The History Press). Above all, Gnagy is careful to present singers and musicians as real people mothers, fathers, lovers, friends who happen to be behind bars. No Depression In a new book, Texas Jailhouse Music, Caroline Gnagy collects the stories of the men and women who performed on the show and at the annual Texas Prison Rodeo. Gnagy, a writer who herself plays country music, was inspired to do the research after seeing photos of the Goree All-Girl String Band and reading a Texas Monthly story about the group from 2003, O Sister, Where Art Thou? Jennifer Aniston has spent years trying to make a film about the band. The Marshall Project Equal parts historical literature and music journalism, Caroline Gnagy's Texas Jailhouse Music is a poignant work venturing inside the Texas state prison system amidst the Great Depression where inmates often led unexpected lives of musical creativity and expression. Through radio shows (WBAP's Thirty Minutes Behind the Walls) and event performances (Texas Prison Rodeo), prisoners gained a sense of accomplishment, belonging to a group, and a fervent hope of release. While the story remains optimistic, Gnagy gives an unflinching account of prison horrors including solitary confinement and forced female sterilization. Central to the book are the inmates. From cold-blooded murderers to death-row prisoners and petty burglars, all are captivating. http: //www.austinchronicle.com/music/2016-06-17/texas-jailhouse-music-a-prison-band-history/ Gnagy shares the stories of blues legends like Dallas' Huddie Lead Belly Ledbetter, and groups like the Goree All-Girl String Band, who became regional celebrities for their incarcerated performances on WBAP and live shows around the state. Through their music, these inmates were able to share their stories of wrongdoing and redemption far and wide. Dallas Morning News Sometimes the most interesting books are ones that delve into a subject readers didn t know about and never considered. And except for now-elderly people who were around the right place at the right time, especially during the decade beginning in the late 30s, most of us would be unaware of the existence and details of music programs in Texas prisons, if not for author Caroline Gnagy. Vintage Guitar Magazine

Author Information

Caroline Gnagy is a music writer and musician based in Austin, Texas. She has served as contributing writer and music editor for a number of independent local and national publications. Since 2011, she has probed into the history of prison bands in Texas and other states and presented her research at numerous academic conferences. Caroline is currently working on her second book, about the lives and careers of female rockabilly performers from pioneers to the present day.

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