Been Here and Gone

Been Here and Gone documents African American music and culture in the American South during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Through photographs and field recordings, Ramsey Jr. captures musicians, workers, and community members across multiple states. The book combines visual imagery and written accounts to preserve a moment in time when traditional folk music, spirituals, and early blues existed together. Ramsey's photographs show people in their homes, at work, in churches, and at musical gatherings. Each section focuses on specific geographic areas and musical traditions, creating a record of both the sounds and social conditions of the era. The documentation includes interviews with performers and detailed notes about recording locations and contexts. The work stands as both a historical archive and an exploration of how music intertwines with daily life, community, and cultural preservation. Through its combination of visual and written elements, the book examines the roots of American musical traditions and their role in society.

Limited reader reviews exist online for this 1960 book focused on early American blues and folk music. The few available reviews highlight the book's photography and firsthand oral histories from blues musicians of the 1950s rural South. Readers appreciated: - Raw, documentary-style photographs - Direct quotes and stories from musicians - Historical preservation of a vanishing musical culture - Details about recording techniques and musical instruments Criticisms included: - Limited print availability and high cost of used copies - Some dated language and perspectives from the era Review Sources: Goodreads: No ratings or reviews Amazon: No reviews (out of print) WorldCat: Referenced in academic papers but no public reviews Vernacular Music Center: Listed as research material but without ratings The book appears primarily in academic references and blues history bibliographies rather than consumer review sites. Most mentions occur in scholarly works about American folk music documentation.

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🎵 The book, published in 1960, features over 200 photographs documenting Southern folk music culture, taken during Ramsey's travels through the region between 1954 and 1958. 📝 Frederic Ramsey Jr. was not only an author but also a significant jazz historian who co-wrote "Jazzmen" (1939), one of the first serious historical studies of jazz music. 🎼 The book captures the last vestiges of pre-World War II African American musical traditions, including work songs, field hollers, and early blues performances that would soon disappear from everyday life. 📸 Ramsey used a Rolleiflex camera throughout his journey, creating intimate portraits of musicians in their homes, churches, and local gathering spots across eight Southern states. 🏺 Beyond music, the book documents various aspects of Southern material culture, including folk pottery, architecture, and crafts, making it a valuable anthropological record of mid-20th century Southern life.