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“The Carter
Family: Don't Forget This Song” is a graphic novel that tells the
true story of one of the earliest and most influential recorded
country music groups. At the heart of the story is Alvin Pleasant
Carter (known as A.P.), a farmer born in a lonely valley in
Appalachia who has dreams of making a living with music, his great
passion in life. And amazingly, his dreams do come true – but at
the price of his marriage and the stability of his family.
A.P.'s
wife Sara, orphaned at a young age, lives with a permanent sadness
that colors her haunting singing voice. Sara has little desire to be
a celebrity, but follows the whims of her husband.
Sara's
teenage cousin Maybelle is a guitar virtuoso who would become as
innovative and influential with her acoustic Gibson as Jimi Hendrix
would later be on the electric guitar.
Together, the three
Carters changed American music in ways that would touch, among
others, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash (who would become
Maybelle's son-in-law through his marriage to June Carter).
The “Carter Family” graphic novel was co-plotted by Frank Young and David Lasky. David drew the art, assisted by a small team of background inkers. Frank wrote all the dialogue, and also colored the entire book in a palette that beautifully evokes the great newspaper comic strips of the 1930's. They've attempted to capture the in words and pictures the heartfelt honesty heard in the music of the Carter Family.
This book will make an excellent gift for anyone in your life who loves a good story. Please ask for it by name at your local general store. Or, if you must, order it from a reputable online merchant.
