Swamp Rock

Swamp Rock travels down into the murky marshes beneath the cypress trees into the deep darkness of the soul of rock 'n' rollSwamp Rock is a cultural account of a sound that merged soul, country, blues, and funk at the dawn of the 1970s, and how the power of that marriage attempted, at least momentarily, to heal sharp divides. It's the story of this sound from the swamps of Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina. It's the story of Bobbie Gentry, and how her keen observations from her Mississippi upbringing helped merge country, folk, and soul. It's the story of Link Wray, part Shawnee who grew up in the rural south and created a sound through his guitar that reflected the swamps he knew as a child. And, it's also the story of country artists Waylon Jennings and Jerry Reed; New Orleans legends The Meters, the Neville Brothers, and Dr. John; blues-rockers JJ Cale, Lucinda Williams, and the Black Keys; West Coast swamp rockers Creedence Clearwater Revival and Little Feat; rock icons from Elvis to Tina Turner; and others.These artists grew up on rural farms in swampy places and they drew on the country folk, blues, and gospel they knew. Tony Joe White's song "Polk Salad Annie," the starting point for this sound, quickly hit the top ten, while Brook Benton would take White's "Rainy Night in Georgia" to the top of the charts. Over the years, Tony Joe's songs would pass through the lips of everyone from Elvis Presley, Tom Jones and Clarence Carter to Tina Turner and Conway Twitty. Elliott's exclusive in-depth conversations with the classic lineup of Little Feat and a fan and collaborator Bonnie Raitt provides a fresh perspective of their overall career and how swamp rock impacted their sound, and how they impacted some of roots music's biggest artists.This fascinating book gives readers a behind-the-scenes tour of the musicians, creators, fans, and those influenced by this elusive, mysterious sound that still resonates and fascinates.