LIVINGSTON, Ala.--Bruce Nemerov, co-editor of the newly published Lost Delta Found recently visited the University of West Alabama campus to share his expertise about Southern roots music. His book, a compilation of three manuscripts from the 1930-40s, gives a complete picture of the sociological context of African American music from the Mississippi Delta and other rural areas during that time. During his visit, Nemerov was interested in learning more about similar music collections gathered in Sumter County during the 1930s-40s with the help of Sumter County native daughter and former UWA teacher Ruby Pickens Tartt, who served as a conduit for recording over 300 folk spirituals in the west Alabama area.

Nemerov, an associate of the Middle Tennessee State University musicology program, said that his book is an interesting read for both history and music lovers. He became interested in the Coahoma County, Mississippi project through his love for roots music from both white and black musicians.

"Music doesn’t know any particular skin color," said Nemerov. He attributed the perceived racial line between musical genres to record companies that began marketing music that way during the early 20th century. The book features manuscripts from both African American scholars from Fisk University and Alan Lomax, a white musicologist.

"Lost Delta Found represents an important step in creating a complete picture of the way in which roots music was collected," said Dr. Tina Naremore Jones, Director for the Center for the Study of the Black Belt.  "Scholars have written biographies on the singers themselves and the folklorists with national reputations, such as the Lomaxes, but the people who served as conduits between the singers and the folklorists have often been overlooked.  Studies that bring to the forefront the work of people like John Work III, Lewis Jones, Sam Adams and Ruby Pickens Tartt help close a gap in scholarly research and preserve a vital part of America's past and American culture. Nemerov's visit provided a wonderful opportunity for dialogue between scholars, community and students."

Nemerov and Gene Bush also performed several songs transcribed in the book, including a children’s game song and a hymn, at the breakfast lecture.

Interviews with Nemerov about Lost Delta Found, published by Vanderbilt University Press, will be featured in upcoming editions of the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune and various music magazines.