Roscoe Holcomb
unknown location (Boston area), 1972

Holcomb (1911-1981) played banjo, guitar, and harmonica and sang unaccompanied in a haunting piercing voice, which musician and photographer John Cohen dubbed the "high lonesome sound." Holcomb's roots were pre-commercial. He made his music in churches and dances, but made his living in the coal mines and in construction. Discovered and recorded late in life by Cohen and others, he toured briefly outside his home of Hazard, KY, representing a rapidly disappearing music style and way of life to a totally different audience, including Eric Clapton, who is said to have called Holcomb his favorite country musician