I Say Me for a Parable: The Oral Autobiography of Mance Lipscomb, Texas Songster

In these 11 unusual narratives, recorded between 1973 and 1976, legendary blues singer and guitarist Lipscomb (1895-1976) tells folk music enthusiast Alyn all he can remember about his life. Lipscomb's parents were mainly African American, partially Choctaw Indian and formerly slaves. Life in Navasota, Tex., where Lipscomb lived for most of his life, revolved around family, church and cotton. His father was a part-time fiddler. In the 1920s, yodeller Jimmie Rogers wanted Lipscomb to tour with him. But Lipscomb refused and wasn't ``discovered'' again until the 1960s, when he became a hit on the folk scene, influencing Bob Dylan, The Greatful Dead, Janis Joplin and others. These ``go-alongs'' are the stuff of rich descriptions, told in Lipscomb's southeastern Texas dialect, recollecting parents, farming, Saturday night suppers, early musical influences, being discovered, leaving Texas and playing his music for white people. Photos not seen by PW. (Sept.)