Product Review

Roscoe Holcomb is one of the giant iconic figures in American traditional music. He personified the "high lonesome sound" so celebrated and admired today for its powerful and haunting effect. His style of singing and his brilliant banjo and guitar playing transport the listener straight back to the earliest roots of American music, a style that remained vital in his native eastern Kentucky long after disappearing everywhere else. Although Roscoe died in 1981, his masterful performances have only gained in recognition and respect since then. This DVD gathers together 2 documentaries about Roscoe made by filmmaker John Cohen and classic performances captured in the 1960s. It presents a comprehensive overview of Roscoe's great and varied artistry as well as offering an incisive and intimate portrait of the man himself and his background and environment. Included is a booklet with notes and photos.