Mr. Hunter,
I have studied Mr. Powell very closely, and it is not hubris at all to
state that after about 1920 he was a bigot of the first order
and a member of the Klan. He almost single-handedly reduced the White Top
Folk Music Festival from a truly significant annual
folk music event to carnival-come-ice-cream-social because of his
bull-headed refusal to allow even black Gospel groups to
participate in it. It is said the only black person to enter White Top
after 1938 was Eleanor Roosevelt's chauffer.
I'm sorry if you object to my use of the word "right-wing," but I do object
to what you say about "the left trying to conceal its
parentage" -- that sounds like something Anne Coulter would say. Mr. Powell
was a great pianist and composer but believe
me his racial views and politics had NOTHING to do with the left, ever!
I'll shut up now.
Dave Lewis
On Wed, Aug 28, 2013 at 5:10 PM, L. Hunter Kevil <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Just a comment about John Powell as a "right-wing" racialist agitator. In
> fact the eugenics movement of the early part of the last century - the root
> of this racial madness - was created and developed by progressives such as
> Margaret Sanger, Woodrow Wilson, and others. Their ideas and laws were
> opposed by conservatives, particularly Christian ones. The left often tries
> to conceal its parentage.
>
> L. H. Kevil
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 28, 2013 at 3:24 PM, David Lewis <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > In general the collectability of anything classical has declined sharply
> in
> > the past decade. Powell, however, has
> > been generally forgotten, and those who are aware of who he is are also
> > aware of his activities as an extreme
> > right-wing agitator. So top dollar might be out of the question these
> days;
> > maybe settle for an offer made by someone
> > who wants them.
> >
> > Dave Lewis
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 1:06 PM, Steven Smolian <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > _____
> > >
> > > From: Steve Smolian [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > > Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 8:49 AM
> > > To: Smolian
> > > Subject: John Powell
> > >
> > > I've just obtained copies of two privately made John Powell 78 sets-
> > > Mozart
> > > Ssonata , K. 311 (4s) and 3 pieces by Powell (3 12" 78s) and Schumann
> 's
> > > Humoresque . op. 20 (4 78s) . He was a Lescheizky pupil, highly
> praised,
> > > and an American composer well known during his lifetime (1882-1963)
> > >
> > > These were once considered among the most collectible of U.S. piano
> > > records.
> > > In the past, I've sold each set at a price in the lower four figures.
> > I've
> > > not heard them mentioned in years. I couldn't find them in Popsike
> Are
> > > they still so highly regarded or has time applied the soft pedal to
> their
> > > reputation?
> > >
> > > I'll consider offers.
> > >
> > > Steve Smolian
> > >
> > >
> >
>
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