Deep Roots Magazine

Deep Roots Magazine

Roots Music and Meaningful Matters

 
 

 

Bobby Sharp, Heart Unchained

Remembering BOBBY SHARP, who passed away on January 28. Sharp wrote Ray Charles's #1 R&B/#9 pop hit of 1962, the classic 'Unchain My Heart.'
by David McGee
 

 
 

Black Sacred Music, A.D. to B.D.

An essential overview of black scared folk music recorded between 1926 A.D. (After Arizona Dranes) and 1936 B.D. (Before Thomas Dorsey)
by David McGee
 

 

 

‘Grass Is the Forgiveness of Nature—Her Constant Benediction’

In 1872 Kansas Sen. JOHN JAMES INGALLS, one of the U.S. Senate's most eloquent voices, praised the vitality of the tallgrass prairie in IN PRAISE OF BLUEGRASS--and he wasn't talking music.
by David McGee
 

 
 

A World Strange Yet Familiar

SHINING SHORE explores THREE NOTCH'D ROAD: THE VIRGINIA BAROQUE ENSEMBLE's own heritage, presenting music from the 17th to the 19th centuries that would have been heard in Virginia.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Seven Voices on ‘Seven Stanzas’: 2025 Edition

Our 14th installment of seven voices reflecting on the meaning of JOHN UPDIKE's poem, 'Seven Stanzas at Easter,' with musical interludes.
by David McGee
 

 
 

45 Years Later, Still Right on Time

The tipoff is in the title: MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH MARTY ROBBINS. One of country's greatest singers is intimately involved in the thoughtful songs he shares with us for the Yuletide including two of his own.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Exception To The Rule

Something's different about CARY MORIN as we hear him on his fine new album, DOCKSIDE SAINTS: It feels like he's pulling away from the pack.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Bringing It All Back Home

One of the best albums of 2016 was recorded in 1978 and is only now seeing the light of day. LIVE AT ROSY'S captures the great SARAH VAUGHAN in a peak moment. She was indeed the Divine One--and Sassy too.
by David McGee