John Fenn interviews current members of The Fairfield Four, an African-American gospel quartet that has existed for more than 95 years, following a concert at the Library of Congress.
Speaker Biography: The Fairfield Four is an African-American gospel quartet that has existed for more than 95 years. The group is best known for its performance in the film "O Brother Where Art Thou" and for collaborations with popular artists such as Dolly Parton, John Fogerty and Vince Gill. As traditional American folk musicians, the quartet has achieved the highest honors possible, including induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, three Grammy Awards and the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. The group was founded as a trio in 1921, but came to be called "The Fairfield Four" becomming a quartet later in the 1920s. Changing lineup through the years, the group has sometimes had more than four members but has kept the name and signature style, traditional African American a capella gospel harmony singing. Today's lineup consists of Larrice Byrd Sr., Bobbye Sherrell, Leveret Allison and Joe Thompson.
Speaker Biography: John Fenn III is the lead for the research and programs section of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
For transcript and more information, visit www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/fea...
27 июл 2024
