Neil Morris

Neil Morris (some sources spell his first name "Neal") came from the Richwoods community south of Mountain View, AR. He made his living as a farmer and horse trader, but was renowned locally -- and later well known regionally -- as a master musician and balladeer. He had a special way with an audience that was picked up in childhood by his son, James Corbett Morris, better known as Jimmie Driftwood (sometimes spelled "Jimmy"), who became a nationally known folksinger and songwriter. While his son recorded singles and whole albums for some of the biggest outfits in the United States, Morris' work was preserved on field recordings and in other less commercial venues, and has been released in that context on albums such as Atlantic's Sounds of the South four-CD box. ~ Bruce Eder