studs terkel rip
31Oct08
I am seriously, seriously bummed to see just now that Studs Terkel died today. The oral history — of which Turkel was the absolute master — is one of my absolute favorite forms of writing, and it would not be nearly as common as it is without his amazing books. In particular I have to recognize Working and The Good War. There haven’t been enough people like him.
Oh wow! I just now searched for Turkel on eMusic, and it ends up we have an audiobook of Working with the actual interviewees speaking, not some narrator. I will have to download this immediately.
If you are unfamiliar with his work, don’t hesitate to grab anything by him. No one was better.
read this excellent obituary:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-studs-terkel-dead,0,3592218,full.story
Where will we find another Studs? Who will step forward to attempt to fill his great shoes? Perhaps the one and only, and sorrily the last, of his kind. A tremendous loss to the world and particularly the U.S. as we all should all learn to know it.
Studs, being from Chicago, was also a music lover. There is an amazingly nice collection of him with Big Bill Broozy and Pete Seeger on emusic as well.
http://www.emusic.com/artist/Studs-Terkel-Big-Bill-Broonzy-and-Pete-Seeger-MP3-Download/11648525.html
About as good as it gets!
My wife and I met him once in Boston. Whatever I’d say about him here would be understatement, so let’s just leave it at that. After a brief conversation — but a REAL conversation — he signed a copy of The Good War, “To Nora, grace and beauty, To Tim, you lucky man.” Needless to say, one of the most truly valuable objects we’ll ever own.
The Stephen Schwartz musical “Working” is based on that book by Studs, who also contributes the notes for the 1978 original cast recording. James Taylor’s performance of “Millwork” is overwhelming, one of his very strongest recordings, and a sublime evocation of the stories Studs told…because if they weren’t his stories, he sure told ‘em, didn’t he?
I love his radio sign-off too: Take it easy….but take it.
Hear hear! I just recently picked up ‘Hard Times’ and was amazed at how he captured an era (the depression) with such a heartfelt touch. His ability to ‘humanize’ history beyond cold facts and events was special. R.I.P. indeed.
Studs was to the true historian as Ansel Adams was to photography, and Edward Abbey to the western rebel, and Shelby Foote to the Civil War. Clearly there was no other like him, and likely (especially in this techno-flash-in-a-second age) will never be. To read his documentation of the depression era trials, tribulations, hopes and despairs gives you a piece of history that is not only essential (where are we now – where are we headed?), but *living*. He lives forever…
I’m not familiar with Studs Terkel’s work, but I was touched by an audio clip from “Hard Times,” which was included on a Steinski show on WVUM that I’ve posted about elsewhere (”On Sadness,” link below). Sad, indeed, moving, and highly recommended.
http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/24325