From the publisher: “The ballad ‘John Henry’ is the most recorded folk song in American history and John Henry–the mighty railroad man who could blast through rock faster than a steam drill–is a towering figure in our culture. In Steel Drivin’ Man, Scott Reynolds Nelson recounts the true story of the man behind the iconic American hero, telling the poignant tale of a young Virginia convict who died working on one of the most dangerous enterprises of the time, the first rail route through the Appalachian Mountains. Using census data, penitentiary reports, and railroad company reports, Nelson reveals how John Henry, victimized by Virginia’s notorious Black Codes, was shipped to the infamous Richmond Penitentiary to become prisoner number 497, and was forced to labor on the mile-long Lewis Tunnel for the C&O railroad. Equally important, Nelson masterfully captures the life of the ballad of John Henry, tracing the song’s evolution from the first printed score by blues legend W. C. Handy, to Carl Sandburg’s use of the ballad to become the first “folk singer,” to the upbeat version by Tennessee Ernie Ford. Attractively illustrated with numerous images, Steel Drivin’ Man offers a marvelous portrait of a beloved folk song–and a true American legend.”

For this event, please also read the article “Somebody Died, Babe: A Musical Cover-Up of Racism, Violence and Greed,” by Warren Wilson professors Jeff Keith and Kevin Kehrberg and published in the Bitter Southerner.

Available to order through Black Mountain bookstore Sassafras-on-Sutton.

This event is free, but an RSVP is required in order to receive the Zoom link. Registration ends half an hour before the start of the event. RSVP below.