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Why
We Started the "Legacy Project" and What We Do Now
The Jimmy Driftwood Legacy Project was started in 2002 when
we decided to compile a complete list of Jimmy's songs and poems
and recordings. We discovered no one had ever done that, including
the University of Central Arkansas where all of Jimmy's musical
and literary stuff is professionally archived and made available
to anyone wanting to do research.
___We
also wanted to answer questions raised through Jimmy's storytelling,
historical songs, etc., including his ancestry (for instance,
"my Cherokee uncles"), his birth and upbringing in
the Ozark hills of north central Arkansas, one of the remotest
parts of America at the time.
We wanted to have in one place everything that could be known
and published about this common American who gave so much to
the cultural heritage of his native region, state and nation.
Our first objective was a large book, something like "The
Life and Music of Jimmy Driftwood" but was encouraged at
the Jimmy Driftwood Barn in Mountain View, Arkansas, to "do
something sooner" because "there is nothing out here
on Jimmy." A much smaller "first book" - "The
Jimmy Driftwood Primer, A Biography" - resulted and hundreds
have been sold.
___"The
Primer" was soon followed with "The Life, Career &
Legacy of Arkansas Folk Music Legend Jimmy Driftwood in the
Words of Prestigious and Respected Persons and Publications,"
- a compilation of dozens of quotations from individuals, media
publications and books plus photos and illustrations from as
long ago as 1958 and not to be found in any other place.
___As
the months have passed along, we have issued other books and
recordings by and about Jimmy, our grandest project to date
is "The Jimmy Driftwood Story." This book is the most
comprehensive publication anywhere and combines the books mentioned
above plus much more and about 50 photos and illustrations from
the archives of the Grand Ole Opry, the University of Central
Arkansas, Grammy-winning Grand Ole Opry photographer Les Leverett
and more. It is available on CD-ROM for PC and in printed form.
Please see our menu of Books & Recordings to order.
___Because
we write on topics of American history and culture other than
Jimmy Driftwood, we have a sister organization, "Jimmy
Driftwood-Americana," that promotes and ships for the "Legacy
Project."
___We
invite your participation with us.
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Mission
and Purpose
The
Jimmy Driftwood Legacy Project is a privately owned organization
dedicated to collecting information by and about the extraordinary
Ozark mountain man whose name the project bears. We believe
the community of mankind ought to see how one common American
did what he could with his time on earth, with his energy and
talents, and with what wealth he acquired beyond his basic needs.
Input from devotees and fans of Jimmy is invited.
Mission:
To publish books, recordings and other media to provide comprehensive
subject matter and commentary on the life and times, poetry
and music of Jimmy Driftwood.
Purpose:
To inform "whole new generations" of readers, listeners
and viewers what Jimmy Driftwood did during his time on earth
in order to inspire them to (A) listen to his music, to read
his poetry and song lyrics and (B) to do whatever they can to
develop their own talents-whether in music, writing, politics,
religion, science, the trades and professions, or other fields-and
to be generous with their means, their time and their talents.
We
believe Jimmy's literary and musical works will help people
to live better lives, raise better children and have better
communities. Whatever we can find that represents the life and
career of Jimmy Driftwood we want to collect it and prepare
it for publication and distribution to "whole new generations"
of people.
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