Never without a Song: The Years and Songs of Jennie Devlin, 1865-1952 (Music in American Life)

"Never Without a Song" focuses on the centrality of folksong in the life of Jennie Devlin (1865-1952), a woman who had worked for years as a 'bound-out girl' along the New York-Pennsylvania border. Katharine Newman met Devlin in 1936 and compiled information about the older woman's life and music. Half a century later Newman returned to her collection in retirement - now with her own perspective of age. The result is a unique biography, told with depth and candor. 'Beautifully written, uncluttered and straightforward' - "Bluegrass Unlimited".