Few of the old-time singers who recorded during the 1920's had as much intensity and emotion as Dock Boggs, a banjo player from Norton, Virginia. The eight

sides he recorded for Brunswick in 1927 capture a performer who fused black blues and white musical traditions into a deeply personal musical style.

He was the youngest of ten children. By age 12 he was working in the local mines; eight years later he began playing banjo for his enjoyment.

In late 1926 or early 1927 he successfully auditioned for Brunswick executives at the Norton Hotel; he was invited to New York for his first session. Among the songs he recorded was "Down South Blues," which he learned from a Rosa Henderson blues record, and such traditional pieces as "Country Blues," "Danville Girl," "Pretty Polly" and "Sugar Baby." The records sold well in Boggs' home territory , but demand was not strong enough to enable him to quit mining.

He recorded four additional sides in 1929 for an independent label. The Depression ended any possibilities of making future recordings.

Discouraged, he pawned his banjo and left music entirely until 1963, when he was contacted by Mike Seeger. Encouraged by the younger musician, Boggs was surprised to hear that a new audience was interested in his early recordings. He successfully performed at the University of Chicago, the Newport Folk Festival and other events.

Three new albums for Folkways revealed that Boggs' powers remained undiminished after 30 years of inactivity. -D.S.