Rory Block: Keeper of Delta Traditions

The Life, Music, and Legacy of an American Blueswoman Bridging Delta History, Folk Revival, and Acoustic Guitar Mastery

De: Kevin S.W. Baxter

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Rory Block’s story is one of devotion, endurance, and musical faith—a six-decade journey from the bohemian enclaves of Greenwich Village to the world’s blues stages. This definitive biography traces her life from a free-spirited childhood in Princeton and New York’s folk revival to her lifelong mission of preserving and renewing the Delta blues tradition.

Through meticulous research and vivid narrative detail, the book captures how a young girl, inspired by encounters with Mississippi John Hurt and Son House, became one of the most authoritative interpreters of their legacy. It follows her evolution through the turbulence of the 1960s and 1970s, her rediscovery by Rounder Records, and her later renaissance with Telarc International—each chapter grounding her artistry in sound, culture, and survival.

Readers witness the creation of a musician whose life mirrors the very music she defends: born of struggle, tempered by resilience, and refined by craft. Her meticulous study of Robert Johnson’s guitar work, her advocacy for women in blues, and her teaching of Delta traditions reveal a life guided by fidelity to authenticity.

As the narrative unfolds, Block’s journey becomes more than biography—it becomes a cultural map of American roots music itself. From backroom recording sessions to international festivals, from teaching workshops to virtual concerts, she remains the unbroken thread linking past to present.

Rory Block: Keeper of Delta Traditions situates her as the eternal custodian of a living art form. It celebrates her as musician, mentor, and messenger, proving that the blues is not a relic of the past but a language of truth that continues to evolve through those devoted enough to keep it alive.