Died On This Date (January 26, 1948) John A. Lomax / Music Folklorist
themusicsover John A. Lomax
September 23, 1867 – January 26, 1948
John Lomax was a musicologist who is world-renowned for helping preserve American folk songs by venturing into previous parts unknown to make field recordings of the locals. After completing his higher education, Lomax became a college professor and set out to document folk music across America. In 1910, his anthology, Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads was published. Songs like “Git Along Little Doggies,” “Home On The Range,” and “The Old Chisholm Trail” were collected within. In 1933, Lomax and his 18-year-old son, Alan Lomax, set out across Texas to make field recordings of mostly African-Americans. What they captured was countless field recordings, prison ballads, and work songs. They were given unprecedented access to prisoners, and in July of 1934, while at Angola prison, they were approached by inmate, Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter to record him singing a song he had written to the Governor pleading for his freedom. Lomax did just that and personally delivered the recording to the Governor. Lead Belly was in fact released a short time later, but it had nothing to do with his recording but for his good behavior. Regardless, thanks to the Lomax recording, Lead Belly went on to have a fairly successful career as the “Singing Convict.” He is said to have traveled over 16,000 miles, amassing a collection of over 10,000 songs. John Lomax was 80 when he passed away on January 26, 1948.
Albert Grossman is best remembered as an artist manager representing, among others, Bob Dylan between 1962 and 1970. He also co-founded the Newport Folk Festival with George Wein in 1959. In 1961, Grossman put three folk singers together, Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and 
Jane Jarvis was a jazz pianist who is perhaps best remembered as a longtime organist at New York’s Shea Stadium. Jarvis began playing the piano as a child, and even in those early years, she was recognized for her advanced talents. Jarvis began studying under college professors while still a child. One of her early professional jobs was as the staff pianist at a local Milwaukee television station. During the mid-50s, Jarvis was hired by the Milwaukee Braves to play between innings at their home games. In the early ’60s, Jarvis moved to New York City where she went to work for Muzak, the company that provided background music for retail stores. There, she worked as the staff composer and arranger. In 1964, the New York Mets hired Jarvis to play the organ at their home games. She became a local celebrity for her work at the stadium….particular for her rendition of “Meet the Mets.” She retired from the Mets in 1979, but stayed active throughout the New York jazz scene for many years. Jane Jarvis was 94 when she passed away on January 25, 2010.
