“Dear Son: Alan Lomax sent us your letter and we were all glad to hear from you. We are hoping that you can come to New York and sing.
Money is hard to find in this town and it takes a lot of it to get by on. It comes out faster than it comes in, but it’s that way all over the country. But, it seems like the chances of making a living by singing are better here than most everywhere else. There are more places to hire out, and more going on, and a million people chasing around the town. Singing is pretty hard to make money at, in places where there are not enough people to play to. We’ve seen this to be true everywhere we’ve been. So we knew just what shape you’re in.
We don’t promise that you’ll get rich or anything like that, not right off the bat, anyhow; but as far as making a living, that would be a cinch. As you get to knowing people here, you’d start to make more money.
We can send you a railroad ticket, and maybe a few dollars to eat on. So write us right back, and tell us if you’re ready to come.
Make up a lot of good songs, honest, hard-working people kind. Make up some good blues that tell all about your part of the country, the crops you grow, weather, the people, what they talk about, and their good and bad times, and the good things in life that they hope for, and how they hope to get them. You can best us, as far as this goes, but just thought we’d mention it ahead of time. New York folks like to hear you sing about things down in your part of the country.
The biggest job right now is to beat Hitler, and we’re going to have to hear from every part of the United States, and find out how to get every ounce of our strength together. Your songs that talk for your part of the nation will be a big help, because that is what songs are supposed to do. Good dance tunes, square dances, roadhouse, and church house music, the low down blues, courting songs—got a lot of every kind.
SOURCE Letter sent to Route 1, Box 8, Robinsonville, Mississippi, February 27, 1942.
We are hoping to see you and work with you as soon as possible. Until then, we send out very best regards and good wishes to all of your friends. Tell Mississippi hello for us.