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Stephen Lee Canner

The Carmichael-Moenkhaus Society for the Appropriation of Hoosier Folklore

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The Carmichael-Moenkhaus Society for the Appropriation of Hoosier Folklore

This group, named for its spiritual founders is to discuss the ephemera of Hoosier folklore. The entire historical, musical, cultural, and folkloric expanse of the Hoosier state is our stomping ground here.

Members: 39
Latest Activity: Oct 17

Why CMSAHF?

The idea for The CMSAHF was born amidst a flurry of comments sparked by Bill Zink's posting a picture of Hoagy Carmichael which led to some very active tangential discussion.

As starter fodder for possible future discussions, the topics on the original posting included, but were not limited to:

- Hoagy Carmichael's life in Bloomington and his association with Bix Beiderbecke. Hoagy's appearance in the film The Best Years of Our Lives. Mentions of Hoagy Carmichael in Ian Fleming's novels. Hoagy's first autobiography Stardust Road.

- Bill Weaver's work in progress, a biography of Hoagy's pal William "Monk" Moenkhaus. Monk's connection to Dada, and the Lilly library's collection of his correspondence from WWI era Switzerland.

- The idea that many (all?) pop music artists from Indiana share similar themes. Hoagy Carmichael, Dale Lawrence, John Mellencamp, Paul Mahern, Frankie Camaro. Specifically: nostalgic longing and social entrapment/involvement.

- The WQAX cassette compilation Hoagy Picks the Hits

- Bluegrass in Indiana

- Historical immigration patterns and their role in creating the state we now know

- Gennett Records and its role in Indiana's musical history, including appearances of Gennett titles in Harry Smith's hugely influential Anthology of Folk Music.

- The idea of Indiana as two states, a northern one and a southern one.

- The influence of rivers in Indiana's cultural development.

- Peter Lamborne Wilson/Hakim Bey's T. A. Z. theory, Moorish Science, and the wandering Ben Ishmael Tribe.

- John Mellencamp as neo-impressionist painter.

- The possible existence of "hobo caves" in Bloomington.

- Why did Indiana produce very little rockabilly?

- The Underground Railroad in Indiana.

- New Harmony

- Traditional balladry

- The House of Blue Lights and Hoosier hauntings in general.

- The Klan in the Anderson area in the 70s cast as "Scooby Doo villains"

Thanks to Bill Zink for posting the picture in the first place (I think he had no idea it would create such a response), Mike Whybark for suggesting this group and coming up with the name, and everyone that responded to the original pic.

Discussion Forum

Stephen Lee Canner

The Ben Ishmael Tribe 119 Replies

Started by Stephen Lee Canner. Last reply by Jon Nelson Aug 24.

Bill Zink

Robert Creeley's Southern Indiana Poem

Started by Bill Zink Jul 31.

Spencer (Shecky) Sundell

The Ben-Ishmael Tribe of Indiana 58 Replies

Started by Spencer (Shecky) Sundell. Last reply by Spencer (Shecky) Sundell Jul 2.

Comment Wall

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mike whybark Comment by mike whybark on October 16, 2009 at 9:18pm
Just reread the Hoagy pic thread, wow, that was some great stuff, all in a couple days! And like a year and a half ago!
DBJ Comment by DBJ on January 27, 2009 at 1:03pm
Have you guys checked out the Hoagy collection online?

Hoagy digital

They haven't digitized much audio yet, however. They have some really cool stuff--Tom Roznowski dipped into it for his WFIU Hoagy special a few years back, as did WFHB when they did their Hoagy-thon. They let me borrow a 1939 radio broadcast last year for Afterglow, in which Hoagy plays with the Tommy Dorsey band up at the Circle Theater in Indianapolis, and Hoagy's mom sits in for a version of "Maple Leaf Rag."
mike whybark Comment by mike whybark on January 27, 2009 at 12:57am
nope, diff book for sure, david, but that one sounds pretty interesting. I think I was looking at two books at my folks' house, both IUP pubs, one from the 30s or 40s and one from the 70s.
DBJ Comment by DBJ on January 27, 2009 at 12:02am
Mike W mentioned a Hoosier folklore book in the original Hoagy-photo thread--not sure if it's the same, but one worth checking out is the WPA/Federal Writers' Project Hoosier Tall Stories, published in 1939. There used to be a copy on the shelf at the IU Main Library. (And anybody interested in the Federal Writers' Project in Indiana should definitely check out George T. Blakey's Creating a Hoosier Self-Portrait.)

On Gennett: Jelly Roll, Bix and Hoagy.
Eric Kinsey Comment by Eric Kinsey on January 20, 2009 at 12:28am
I'm late to this discussion but here's a few thoughts.

There was/is a Speed Records comp out about 10 years ago called "Hillbillies On Speed" featuring artists like Fountain Square's own Lattie Moore. I don't own it but here is the label code, Redita RLP 116.

As far as I know Indiana had LOTS of Rockabilly! Bobby Helms at one point, please correct me if I am wrong, played with Hank Williams's The Drifting Cowboys/Cherokee Cowboys after they were fired by Ray Price. Most of his early hits were recorded in Bloomington at a local radio station. He later recorded many of his hits at the legendary Quonset Hut in Nashville with various members of the Drifting Cowboys and the A-team/Owen Bradley session legends. Viz, 'Hangin' Round', 'Tennesee Rock n Roll', 'Freedom Lovin' Guy', etc. There were many other great early Indiana rockabillies like Boyd Bennett and The Rockets, Keetie and The Kats, Lattie Moore, Ronnie Haig, Art Adams, Tommy Lam, etc. Also, the very wild "Flyin Saucers Rock n Roll" recorded by Billy Lee Riley and the Little Green Men on Sun was written by Indiana native Ray Scott. Scott also recorded the minor hit "Boppin Wig-Wam Willie".
DBJ Comment by DBJ on December 24, 2008 at 1:11am
Don't know if this is of direct interest to the group or not, but it's a website I kind of dig--"Lost Indiana":

http://www.lostindiana.net/index.html

Strangely enough, I don't think there's anything there about the Lost River--which really fascinated me as a kid (my grandmother grew up in French Lick/West Baden of the 1920s and used to tell me stories about the hotel, Lost River, etc.).
Jbarge Comment by Jbarge on August 3, 2008 at 2:39pm
Hey I was searching for a couintry musician from bloomington back in the eighties (little guy with a mustache and acne who used to play at the Union Jack - he also made a Live From Bloomington sampler at one point - help!) when I came across this about Bobby Helms:
Surprisingly good stuff. I would not have thought that the man known primarily for the pop hits My Special Angel and Jingle Bell Rock would have recorded enough good material to justify a 62 cut double CD reissue, but, thanks to his solid country roots, he does. In fact, much of his output compares favorably with other Decca country artists from the same era. And the folks at Bear Family have wisely put his most country-flavored numbers on the first disc and his most pop-sounding cuts on the other. The country disc even includes his little-known first two records, made for the tiny Speed record label of Bloomington, Indiana in 1955. Helms' hits are here, of course, as well as Tennessee Rock 'n Roll, Far Away Heart, Sad-Eyed Baby, two versions of Just A Little Lonesome, one in a country vein and one in a pop vein, and others. The first disc is, not surprisingly, the stronger of the two, but even the second disc has its good moments. And everything else about this package is up to Bear Family's normal high standards. Excellent sound and notes. (DH)
Anybody know about the Speed Label from Bloomington?
Ed Comment by Ed on August 1, 2008 at 1:40am
Just posted Anne Z's IDS piece on "Hoagy Picks the Hits" from 1988.
Bill Zink Comment by Bill Zink on June 2, 2008 at 1:33am
Message to anyone who is hooked up with the Rhapsody online music site: I just put together a "Hoagy Carmichael by Hoagy Carmichael" playlist - 33 versions of Hoagy doing his own songs. All you have to do is go to "Playlist Central", Single Artist mixes. Or, contact me through this site, and I will e-mail you the list.

Peace.
Holly Comment by Holly on May 21, 2008 at 10:44pm
These comments don't register on the sidebar, so you have to check in to see. Mike, your comment to Bill is fun to read aloud.
 

Members (38)

mike whybark Stephen Lee Canner Holly Bill Zink Spencer (Shecky) Sundell Jbarge Zac Burke Muhammed al-Ahari Evan Finch Matt Speake Jon Nelson Gabe Saavedra David Schlabach Kenneth Rorie Dale Lawrence Cyndi E (sindie e) Matt Janovic Kevin Loyal Jeb Banner PJ Christie Ed dreamwheasler Molly D'Eath John P. Strohm Eric Sinclair AnneZ Glenn Hicks Charles Silver Matthew L. Whitaker DBJ
 
 

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