The Legend of Juggin' Joe
Apr 12, 2006
Author: Joseph Yakel
ISBN: 1411625889
Publication Date: May 2005
Author's Web site: www.lulu.com/yakel
I was presented with the opportunity to review "Juggin Joe" and almost passed on it. The reason being that it's not actually set in the South. But it is set in the Hill Country land that could easily be the Tennessee Mountains. It also involves the The Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Awards and Johnny Walker. It's not necessarily Southern, but when reading it, it easily could be. So I decided to give it a shot.
One aside here. This story is written entirely in "hill speak". Some may find this difficult to read. I didn't as it reads fairly close to the way I grew up talking so I just considered it Southern Phonics. It has plenty of hysterical sayings that I heard years ago and had forgotten. It was nice to see them brought out again.
The story centers around Joe, the 10th of 11 children. Poor boy has to find something to set him apart from the rest of his brood. One day while going to a far shed to get more jugs for the homemade moonshine he discovers that he has a bit of talent for making music from blowing into the jugs. He's quite the "jugger".
Joe makes a hit with the hollow folk, playing at every function. Everyone loves Joe and his juggin, except the Preacher, who's daughter Joe is wanting to court. Joe spends a great deal of this book pining after his love.
He's soon discovered by the local radio station and from there it's a hop, skip and a jump to albums, Opry and award shows.
There's also a stint in the army in Joe's busy life, where he meets Mr. and Mrs. Reagan.
Joe's life is a whirlwind of music, love, war and moonshine.
Below is an excerpt of the book:
"Now, after makin three fine records with his Buckboard Band, all ah which turned tah Gold I might add, one woulda thought that Joe had the world in his hands. We wuz right proud ah him. After all, he done played the Great Ole Oppery, an' wuz rubbin elbows with the likes ah Wailin' Gennin's, Slim Whiltman an'Boxcar Billie on a reg'lar basis. Damnation, the boy even had 'im his own fan club, an' tole us 'bout some folks what wuz called 'groupies'. Seems them people jes' couldn'a git 'nuff ah Joe's juggin, an' follered him 'round from place tah place. Sorta like they wuz competin' tah attend as many ah his performances as'n they could. When Doc explained it tah me, I said it,"Them folks jes' ain't right", an it kinda reminded me ah when a body gits tah longin' an' hankerin' fer the tonic so bad that they's needin tah have the drink all day long...higher than a New York pine, an' no sense a'tall." Now, I don't want to give much away in the love story,but Joe's l'il mountain flower tries to get courted by one Jonnie Wokker, whose family happens to come from the South. Jonnie's pap, like Joe's, also makes still whiskey.
If you're not put off by the style of writing, which I wasn't, Juggin Joe makes for a pleasant afternoon read.
