The death at 91 of Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz is a profoundly bittersweet coda to one of the most remarkably penetrating cultural odysseys of 20th century American life. Born in Silesia in 1931 and arriving here circa 1947, Strachwitz’ passion for vernacular and regional music was as boundless as it was illimitable. Attending college in Pomona in 1951, he tuned in Hunter Hancock and Huggy Boy, sallied forth to El Monte Legion Stadium amongst the dangerous (to LAPD and LASD) mixed race crowds to gas on the explosive R&B of honking sax shaman Big Jay McNeely (music so inflammatory, Strachwitz recalled, that “the kids were unzipping their flies”) and became an avid habitué of Hollywood’s jazz and folk clubs.
Nice one Jonny