Mance Lipscomb's Discovery (Part 1)

Mance Lipscomb (1895-1976) was a farmer most of his life, and also a "songster" who could perform hundreds of songs of all types, including blues and ragtime, folk songs, dances, and popular tunes. He was "discovered" by Chris Strachawitz and Mack McCormick in 1961 at the age when most retire. The description of his "discovery" as told by Mack McCormick is presented on Lipscomb's first album with Arhoolie (which was the first album issued under that label). This interview tells Mance's version of that discovery. Michael Birnbaum (shown in the first image) and Eddie Iwaki (who took most of the pictures shown here) visited Mance at his home in Navasota Texas in September, 1966 and recorded this interview.

[@ozwzrd]

The second photo...the J-200...was my gift to Mance back when. We had many good times playing music together. Now I just play a Sovereign.

[@jeremyreagan9085]

Mance was such a loving person. I have loved his music for so long. I thank Jesus he gave him his talent. He did so much good just by playing the guitar and the songs he knew. I hope to meet him in heaven.

[@banjochris]

Thanks so much for posting this. I never get tired of hearing Mance talk.

[@johnmitchelljr]

Great man great talk. Thank you.

[@Alanoffer]

Those guys were well out of order the way they treated mance on the first meeting ,He could have sold his soul to them ,