The Minstrel Man from Georgia
Emmett Miller--bandleader, minstrel, and yodeling crooner--is a true music legend. His version of "Lovesick Blues" was covered byHank Williams,Merle Haggardrecorded an entire Miller tribute album,Leon Redbonecites him as an influence, and author Nick Tosches has devotedan entire bookto his fascination with the forgotten Georgian. What makes an obscure blackface musician who recorded just two dozen or so tunes in the late '20s so special? A lot. Miller existed at one of those magical crossroads in American history. His music is a bridge between the sounds of hot jazz and the as-yet-discovered "country music," and his crooning sound would be copied byJimmie Rodgersand others, but never quite so compellingly. His music sounds like no one else's and, despite the minstrel shtick he refused to shed long after it became unfashionable, his songs are absolutely, perfectly timeless. Miller's backing band, the Georgia Crackers, was comprised of some of the best jazz musicians of his day (Eddie Lang, theDorsey Brothers,Gene Krupa,Jack Teagarden), and they're in top form on these tunes, including "Lovesick Blues," "I Ain't Got Nobody," and "Anytime." Included are a few of Miller's recorded minstrel routines--archaic relics that can't compare to his tunes. Anyway you look at it, he led a controversial lifestyle, but his recordings are just too influential to forget.--Jason Verlinde