The American singer and guitarist Ramblin' Jack Elliott (1931- ) is a
seminal figure in the folk music revivals of the United States and Great
Britain. Declared an American treasure by former President Bill Clinton,
Elliott has traveled and performed for more than 50 years, and his life
and career neatly parallel the ascension of folk music's "renaissance"
from the 1940s through the present day. Ramblin' Jack Elliott: The
Never-Ending Highway is the first complete biography of this important
figure in the history of folk music. Elliott's music and Beat-era
sensibility influenced countless artists in the fields of folk, rock,
and country and western music, and Hank Reineke provides the full story
of Elliott's relationships and influences. Most notably, his
associations with Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan are well-documented:
Elliott is considered Guthrie's most famous protégé and Elliott mentored
Dylan in his early career. Reineke also recounts how Elliott's life
intersected with Derroll Adams, Jack Kerouac and the Beats, Princess
Margaret, James Dean, and scores of others. The book examines the full
breadth of Elliott's career, discussing how the rough-edged cowboy
singer survived in the music industry and eventually won a Grammy Award
for Best Traditional Folk Recording and the prestigious National Medal
of the Arts. In addition to the biography, Reineke has amassed the first
exhaustive and comprehensive discography of albums from the singer's
notable back-catalog (1955-2009), including nearly 60 LP and CD issues,
many rare and sought-after 78rpm discs, EPs, and 45rpm recordings, as
well as a number of contributions to compilations, soundtracks, festival
recordings, and guest appearances. This impressive volume is rounded out
with a bibliography, an index, and more than 30 photographs, making this
a must-have for scholars and fans of American folk music.
