Jazz Country: Ralph Ellison in America

Title Page, Copyright, Dedication

Ja zz u n i v e r s i t y o f i o w a p r e s s Ralph Ellison in America H O R A C E A . P O R T E R c o u n t r y i o w a c i t y University of Iowa Press, Iowa City 52242 Copyright © 2001 by Horace A. Porter All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America Design by Richard Hendel http://www.uiowa.edu/˜uipress No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher. All reasonable steps have been taken to contact copyright holders of material used in this book. The publisher would be pleased to make suitable arrangements with any whom it has not been possible to reach. A version of chapter 1 was previously published as “Jazz Beginnings: Ralph Ellison and Charlie Christian in Oklahoma City” in the Antioch Review 57 (Summer 1999). The publication of this book was generously supported by the University of Iowa Foundation. Printed on acid-free paper Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Porter, Horace A., 1950– Jazz country: Ralph Ellison in America / by Horace A. Porter. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 0-87745-777-8 (cloth) 1. Jazz in literature. 2. Ellison, Ralph — Knowledge — Jazz. I. Title. ml80.e45 p67 2001 818´.5409 —dc21 2001027538 01 02 03 04 05 c 5 4 3 2 1 For Zachary E. Porter It makes no difference if it’s sweet or hot, Just keep that rhythm, Give it everything you’ve got! It don’t mean a thing If it ain’t got that swing! —Duke Ellington ...