It’s time for our Classic Americana feature here on Radio Heartland, and this week, we’re celebrating Alan Lomax, who was born on January 31, 1915.

Lomax was a musician and folklorist, but he’s probably best known for his work making field recordings of folk music. In fact, Lomax contributed more than 5,000 hours of sound recordings to the Library of Congress, along with hundreds of photos and hours of films and videotapes.

Through his work recording lesser-known and unknown musicians, primarily across the American South, many songs that were part of American folk, blues and bluegrass traditions were prevented from being lost to the ages. Thanks to Lomax, countless artists — including Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen — were inspired to continue American folk traditions.

What’s more, Lomax is remembered for his commitment to honoring Black musicians and their legacies. Artists recorded by Alan Lomax include now legends like Lead Belly, Muddy Waters and Jelly Roll Morton.

So this week, we’ll honor two people — Alan Lomax and Jelly Roll Morton — by listening to Jelly Roll Morton’s “Black Bottom Stomp.”

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