Description
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewReineke, the research consult on Aiyana Elliott’s award-winning film about her father, The Ballad of Ramblin’ Jack, has written the definitive biography of musical legend Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, covering many of the seminal events in the history of American folk music. From Elliott’s life-changing experience at the World Championship Rodeo at Madison Square Garden, through his formative musical years and friendship with mentor Woody Guthrie, and into the present, Reineke describes the development and maturity of Ramblin’ Jack’s distinctive musical voice. Elliott’s career will be a study in contrasts to the hip, ambitious Bob Dylan. It should come as a surprise to no one that Elliott’s story takes some interesting twists and turns as he pursued his muse. He refused to follow trends, seemed at times to lack direction, and could be infuriatingly unreliable and distant to friends and family. Verdict: This fascinating study of a musical legend never fails to inform and entertain. Recommended for anyone interested in American folk music of the last half century. * Library Journal *
Thoroughly-researched biography. * Record Collector *
The author seems to have gathered every known fact, review and movement of Elliot in his long and illustrious career. . . . If and when Elliot gets to write his own take on his life, his task is made somewhat easier in that he only needs to cite one reference work for a detailed and accurate account of his life in music, and this is it. * fRoots *
Elliott's life, so expertly researched and elegantly described in Hank Reineke's authorative Ramblin' Jack Elliot: The Never-Ending Highway reads like that — always rumpled, never on time and just casually mixing with those he influenced on the sidelines or at a distance. -- Martin Jack Rosenblum, January, 2010
