Just Walkin' in the Rain : The True Story of the Prisonaires: the Convict Pioneers of R & B and Rock & Roll

Rating:
Summary: The story of an amazing, graced life
Review: "Just Walkin' In the Rain" - the story of an amazing, graced life

Not often can a story about a rock and roll legend be called 'inspirational'. The tragedy of rock genius thrown into the propellers spans the decades from Johnny Act to Kurt Cobain.  But the story of Johnny Bragg is, indeed, one that offers hope for all, no matter where life has taken you.  And it's told wonderfully by rock historian Jay Warner in his new book, "Just Walkin' In The Rain", named after the Johnny Ray hit written by Bragg.

With a false accusation of rape made by a girlfriend which led to convictions on six 99 year sentences, surviving to near middle age might have been more than he could have expected.  (Bragg was a poor Black man fighting the Tennessee Judicial System in the 50's.)  Instead, his musical ability brought him together with an inmate singing group which he would rename "The Prisonaires".  His talent brought a polish to the group's sound.  Their work led Governor Frank Clement ( a Southern liberal Democrat, of all things) to become the group's greatest advocate (and Bragg's personal patron saint) in order to prove that all men, regardless of their past, were capable of redemption.  And the Governor's effort to showcase the group at numerous state functions led to radio appearances and, ultimately, a career as hit recording artists...and encounters with everyone from Elvis to Margaret Truman...all while in prison.

Bragg's story is a wild ride that Warner details with expertise and love. Everytime that it looks like Bragg has been dealt nothing but 3's and 8's, an ace or two always seems to wind up in his hand, so continually does a Divine hand appear to be intervening in his life.

To be sure, the racial climate of the South at that time and Bragg's own worst tendencies keep this from having a Frank Capra ending.  Still, if you're looking for a story that shows how misfortune can often be the first sign of a miracle (or if you want to check out an essential part of rock's beginnings), this is it!

  I

Rating:
Summary: The story of an amazing, graced life
Review: "Just Walkin' In the Rain" - the story of an amazing, graced life

Not often can a story about a rock and roll legend be called 'inspirational'. The tragedy of rock genius thrown into the propellers spans the decades from Johnny Act to Kurt Cobain.  But the story of Johnny Bragg is, indeed, one that offers hope for all, no matter where life has taken you.  And it's told wonderfully by rock historian Jay Warner in his new book, "Just Walkin' In The Rain", named after the Johnny Ray hit written by Bragg.

With a false accusation of rape made by a girlfriend which led to convictions on six 99 year sentences, surviving to near middle age might have been more than he could have expected.  (Bragg was a poor Black man fighting the Tennessee Judicial System in the 50's.)  Instead, his musical ability brought him together with an inmate singing group which he would rename "The Prisonaires".  His talent brought a polish to the group's sound.  Their work led Governor Frank Clement ( a Southern liberal Democrat, of all things) to become the group's greatest advocate (and Bragg's personal patron saint) in order to prove that all men, regardless of their past, were capable of redemption.  And the Governor's effort to showcase the group at numerous state functions led to radio appearances and, ultimately, a career as hit recording artists...and encounters with everyone from Elvis to Margaret Truman...all while in prison.

Bragg's story is a wild ride that Warner details with expertise and love. Everytime that it looks like Bragg has been dealt nothing but 3's and 8's, an ace or two always seems to wind up in his hand, so continually does a Divine hand appear to be intervening in his life.

To be sure, the racial climate of the South at that time and Bragg's own worst tendencies keep this from having a Frank Capra ending.  Still, if you're looking for a story that shows how misfortune can often be the first sign of a miracle (or if you want to check out an essential part of rock's beginnings), this is it!

  I

Rating:
Summary: The story of an amazing, graced life
Review: "Just Walkin' In the Rain" - the story of an amazing, graced life

Not often can a story about a rock and roll legend be called 'inspirational'. The tragedy of rock genius thrown into the propellers spans the decades from Johnny Act to Kurt Cobain.  But the story of Johnny Bragg is, indeed, one that offers hope for all, no matter where life has taken you.  And it's told wonderfully by rock historian Jay Warner in his new book, "Just Walkin' In The Rain", named after the Johnny Ray hit written by Bragg.

With a false accusation of rape made by a girlfriend which led to convictions on six 99 year sentences, surviving to near middle age might have been more than he could have expected.  (Bragg was a poor Black man fighting the Tennessee Judicial System in the 50's.)  Instead, his musical ability brought him together with an inmate singing group which he would rename "The Prisonaires".  His talent brought a polish to the group's sound.  Their work led Governor Frank Clement ( a Southern liberal Democrat, of all things) to become the group's greatest advocate (and Bragg's personal patron saint) in order to prove that all men, regardless of their past, were capable of redemption.  And the Governor's effort to showcase the group at numerous state functions led to radio appearances and, ultimately, a career as hit recording artists...and encounters with everyone from Elvis to Margaret Truman...all while in prison.

Bragg's story is a wild ride that Warner details with expertise and love. Everytime that it looks like Bragg has been dealt nothing but 3's and 8's, an ace or two always seems to wind up in his hand, so continually does a Divine hand appear to be intervening in his life.

To be sure, the racial climate of the South at that time and Bragg's own worst tendencies keep this from having a Frank Capra ending.  Still, if you're looking for a story that shows how misfortune can often be the first sign of a miracle (or if you want to check out an essential part of rock's beginnings), this is it!

  I

Rating:
Summary: A story of determination...
Review: I picked this book up as an assignment for my Popular American Music class, but have found a tremendous amount of admiration for a man who made lemonade out of lemons. I have learned a lot about a man who led a group of men to great achievements despite their lack of freedom and limited resources. I definitely recommend this to anyone who appreciates learning about a musician who truly sang for his freedom.

Rating:
Summary: A story of determination...
Review: I picked this book up as an assignment for my Popular American Music class, but have found a tremendous amount of admiration for a man who made lemonade out of lemons. I have learned a lot about a man who led a group of men to great achievements despite their lack of freedom and limited resources. I definitely recommend this to anyone who appreciates learning about a musician who truly sang for his freedom.

Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER WINNER FROM WARNER
Review: They were a short-lived '50s singing group made up of five jailbirds: a man in for larceny, a convicted rapist and three assorted killers. Although signed to a legendary label, Sun Records, they never scored once on the pop or R&B hit parades. And that despite the fact that they introduced "Just Walkin' In The Rain" -- a song that would later sell a million copies when recorded by Johnnie Ray, the over-the-top pop singer often billed as "The Prince Of Wails." On the surface, it would certainly appear that The Prisonaires never really amounted to much -- and were, at best, a mini-footnote in pop history. Enter master musicologist Jay Warner, one of the few in his field with the tenacity, drive and investigative skills needed to unravel the mystery of The Prisonaires' nearly 50-year old hidden story. Now, for the first time ever, the quintet's amazing, eye-opening saga has been revealed in painstaking detail in Warner's latest literary labor of love. To paraphrase Paul Harvey, just wait 'til you discover "the rest of the story." -- Gary Theroux, Music Editor, Reader's Digest

Rating:
Summary: WOODEN WRITING SPOILS STORY OF PIONEER TALENT
Review: Warner has proven himself to be an enthusiast with a questionable grasp of solid information. Bragg was/is a talented songwriter and claimer of credit for all sorts of creative efforts ("Hank Williams bought my songs" - that sort of thing - more than Bragg have claimed authorship of some of Hank's songs so that's hardly a major revelation.). For instance, Bragg is portrayed as a coach and confidant of Elvis, for example. .... The story of Bragg is of bad and racially biased law enforcement of the 1940s and 1950s and of his inevitable imprisonment followed by constant visits of his group the Prisonaires to various concerts at the governor's home. The first few trips that Warner protrays are of interest, the final twenty or so start to drag...oh yeah, the group sang at the governer's mansion - so what else is new? And bringing Elvis on the scene with an attempt to protray suspense just falls flat - badly. The life of Bragg is an interesting magazine piece, but hardly a book.


Rating:
Summary: WOODEN WRITING SPOILS STORY OF PIONEER TALENT
Review: Warner has proven himself to be an enthusiast with a questionable grasp of solid information. Bragg was/is a talented songwriter and claimer of credit for all sorts of creative efforts ("Hank Williams bought my songs" - that sort of thing - more than Bragg have claimed authorship of some of Hank's songs so that's hardly a major revelation.). For instance, Bragg is portrayed as a coach and confidant of Elvis, for example. .... The story of Bragg is of bad and racially biased law enforcement of the 1940s and 1950s and of his inevitable imprisonment followed by constant visits of his group the Prisonaires to various concerts at the governor's home. The first few trips that Warner protrays are of interest, the final twenty or so start to drag...oh yeah, the group sang at the governer's mansion - so what else is new? And bringing Elvis on the scene with an attempt to protray suspense just falls flat - badly. The life of Bragg is an interesting magazine piece, but hardly a book.