Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
Jazz's greatest drummer, Max Roach, died Thursday, eighty-three years after being born in eastern North Carolina. Pictures, videos, and audio at the link.
Update: Three-hour WFMU tribute show.
Newland, NC? or New Land, NC? The former is in the mountains, actually... though I was rooting for the continuation of the line of jazz greats born down East.
Posted by: KJ at August 20, 2007 11:13 AMWikipedia says: "Roach was born in the Township of Newland, Pasquotank County North Carolina, which borders the southern edge of the Great Dismal Swamp, to Alphonse and Cressie Roach. Many confuse this with Newland Town in Avery County."
Posted by: apostropher at August 20, 2007 03:05 PMI love it! See which Wikipedia article is linked when you click on the Newland, NC heading...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Roach
Where's my independent verification when I need it??
Posted by: KJ at August 20, 2007 04:04 PMHeh. Not full verification, but NPR says "born in a North Carolina town founded by freed slaves." Avery County has practically no black population, while Pasquotank is ~40%.
Posted by: apostropher at August 20, 2007 04:24 PM