StoryCorps

Music Man

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on November 8, 2005, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

In the woods outside of Greensboro, AL there’s an interesting fellow named Music Man, aka Mr. Eyes Cancer, aka Jimmy Lee Matthews.
We heard that he likes visitors so we decided to seek him out. Above, Facilitator Nick Yulman stands in front of Music Man’s elaborate hog gate and, as directed, calls him. When closed, the gate blocks cars from entering but allows Music Man to pass through on his motor scooter.

Music Man’s old house burned down in a fire, so Samuel Mockbee’s wonderful Rural Studio project built him a new one. Combining innovative design, economical construction and ecologically sound operation the house is quite something. Music man has made it his own, filling it with a rumbling sound system which employs a wiring scheme only he can understand. He lives with numerous dogs: Shaggley Fool, Mouse, Bat Girl & Tail, to name a few.

Music Man sang us some of his songs, many of which start with him performing a dramatic scene. Here, he holds pebbles he collected for use as prop dice in his song "What’s a Nice Girl Like you Doing in Place Like This?".

Our favorite song of his goes:
"You don’t need to look in the mirror, I’ll be your mirror baby/
I’ll be your mirror telling you, ‘you’re looking good!’"

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net November 8, 2005 No Comments

Believe it or not!

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on November 6, 2005, from Medford, Oregon.

World record holder and phonebook ripper, Edward Charon, demonstrates his skill before participating in StoryCorps.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net November 6, 2005 No Comments

Art Night

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on November 4, 2005, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The first Thursday of every month is Art Night in Tuscaloosa. The area’s galleries stay open late and people make the rounds.

We stuck around after hours and kept the booth open for visitors to stop by – none cuter nor more skilled behind the mixing board than Rachel.

Here’s the booth in situ on Art Night in Kentuck’s lovely courtyard.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net November 4, 2005 No Comments

Mobilebooth West gets in touch with the trees

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on November 2, 2005, from Medford, Oregon.

Facilitator Karen DiMattia is dwarfed by the redwoods in northern California.

Facilitator Sarah Kramer, a born and raised New Yorker, becomes a tree hugger.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net November 2, 2005 No Comments

It’s a burl!

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on , from Medford, Oregon.

En route to see the redwood forest, Mobilebooth facilitators stopped to check out the “burl” furniture and art gallery in Kerby, OR. (A burl is a large rounded outgrowth on the trunk or branch of a tree). If you’re ever driving on the redwood highway, it’s worth a stop.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net November 2, 2005 No Comments

A twin!

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on , from Medford, Oregon.

We’re not the only Airstream in Oregon!

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net November 2, 2005 No Comments

Tuscaloosa, AL – The Druid City

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on November 1, 2005, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

We rolled into Tuscaloosa and received a warm welcome, as well as lots of wine and cheese, at a reception hosted by Alabama Public Radio at the historic Jameson House. Above, StoryCorps Facilities Manager, Kayvon Bahramian explains the project to a rapt audience while Facilitators Maisie Tivnan and Nick Yulman wait to talk about their experiences and beg for tickets to the upcoming Alabama Crimson Tide/LSU football game. Before the evening was up, Linda and David Ford kindly donated their tickets to the big game, which has Tuscaloosans even more excited than the presence of a national oral history project in their town.

The booth is situated across the Black Warrior River in Northport, AL next to a huge red dog at the Kentuck Art Center. Kentuck celebrates folk art and traditional crafts and is located on a beautifully landscaped courtyard housing a blacksmith’s shop and various artist’s studios.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net November 1, 2005 No Comments

Halloween Magic

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on , from Medford, Oregon.

Facilitator Karen DiMattia reverted to her college days as a rock star and partied with Elvis in downtown Ashland, OR.

Sarah Kramer transformed into a medieval superhero, on the lookout for STORIES!

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net November 1, 2005 No Comments

Drill Team

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on October 31, 2005, from Memphis, Tennessee.

Sitting in the booth this evening, we heard quite a racket coming from outside. We emerged to find this local drill team running through the streets, playing hide and seek. We asked them to show us their stuff and were treated to a spectacular show.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net October 31, 2005 No Comments

The Blue Worm

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on October 30, 2005, from Memphis, Tennessee.

On Saturday nights here in Memphis, we’ve been going to a juke joint called the Blue Worm. Judy from the Center for Southern Folklore turned us on to this neighborhood hangout, located in an abandoned strip mall, and it’s become our favorite place to relax, shoot pool and hear some good music.

The same folks are there every week, dressed to the nines and busting elaborate moves on the dance floor. The house band includes members of Memphis’ Daddy Mack Blues Band, a drummer named William Faulkner and Dr. Steve, a research geneticist who doubles on sax. They play a mean version of the Electric Slide in addition to a repertoire of blues standards.

After the Blue Worm closed this Saturday, our last in Memphis, we hung out next-door at club owners Betty and ‘Sippi’s place. Bluesman Wilroy Sanders (above) showed musically inclined facilitator Nick Yulman some licks and, with Halloween just around the corner, accused all present of being vampires. Thanks to guitarist extraordinaire James Bonner for the ride home and the wonderful music.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net October 30, 2005 No Comments

“Unc”

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on October 29, 2005, from Memphis, Tennessee.

Memphis has welcomed many musicians and entertainers from New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Crescent City dancer, singer and bon vivant "Uncle" Lionel Batiste Sr. came by the booth to do an interview along with trombonist Charles Joseph. They sang a stirring version of "Dream Boat" and explained that in New Orleans, people "live to live". Special thanks to Kelley Edmiston for arranging and participating in the interview.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net October 29, 2005 2 Comments

72 years and counting

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on , from Medford, Oregon.

It was a family affair at the mobilebooth when John and Marguerite Black, married for 72 years, were interviewed in Medford, OR.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net October 29, 2005 No Comments

Journey to Crater Lake

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on October 27, 2005, from Medford, Oregon.

On a day off, mobilebooth facilitator Sarah Kramer traveled solo to one of the wonders of the world: Crater Lake, the deepest lake in America created by a volcano that blew its top 6,600 years ago. Her fellow facilitator, Karen DiMattia, stayed in bed.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net October 27, 2005 No Comments

Graceland & Graceland Too

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on October 25, 2005, from Memphis, Tennessee.

The world’s number one Elvis fan, Paul McCleod, resides In Holly Springs, Mississippi, midway between the King’s birthplace of Tupelo, MS and the seat of his empire in Memphis, TN. Here, he has created Graceland Too, a tribute to both Elvis’ legacy and his own consuming obsession. Every surface of the house, also Paul’s home, is covered with some sort of Elvis memorabilia.

Paul has every Elvis record, including an extremely rare one which Bill Clinton tried to buy for $250,000, but his passion goes much deeper than the music. He is building an approximation of the Jailhouse Rock set in his backyard and has binder upon binder cataloguing every appearance of, or even passing reference to, Elvis in a TV show or movie. Beyond this, he named his son Elvis Aaron Presley McCleod and plans to be buried in a replica of the rocker’s famous gold suit.

Last week we visited Graceland itself: an emotional rollercoaster of a tour culminating with a visit to Elvis’ final resting place. On the off-chance that the rumors are true and that Elvis is still with us, we left him a StoryCorps brochure in case he wants to tell his story.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net October 25, 2005 4 Comments

Mississippi Industrial College

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net on , from Memphis, Tennessee.

Just south of the Tennessee border is Holly Springs, Mississippi. Upon pulling into town, we came across a trio of abondoned institutional buildings. Never ones to pass up a creepy, crumbling facade, we had to explore.