Harry Smith, Allen Ginsberg, and Wade Walton at Wade’s Barber Shop in Clarksdale, Mississippi, April 1987. Harry records Wade, an inimitable barber and blues musician, playing percussion with his razor and strop - photo by William Cochrane while studying under Dr. Bill Ferris - (courtesy Smithsonian-Folkways) Via Smithsonian Folkways: These rare and personal photographs were captured by William Cochrane, a wonderful Folkways follower who so kindly shared them with us along with his experience from that day in the spring of 1987. William was an undergrad Southern studies major at @olemiss <https://www.instagram.com/olemiss/> under the direction of folklorist Dr. Bill Ferris, and had been asked by the English department chair to escort Allen Ginsberg while in town on a book tour for his poetry collection “White Shroud.” Allen was interested in visiting Wade’s Barber Shop, run by the inimitable barber and blues musician Wade Walton. Harry Smith was traveling with Allen and came along. William described to us, “The folks getting their haircut in the shop were doing it as a last detail in preparing for Easter and it was a vibrant, bustling moment. Wade was a great guy, very generous with his time. He worked Allen in for a haircut and demonstration of his boogie woogie razor strop technique which Harry recorded. His shop was open to all and I should mention that Wade had no familiarity with Allen or his work at all, although that would not have mattered. Wade was unfailingly gracious even on one of the busiest days of the season.” #smithsonianfolkways #harrysmith #wadewalton #clarksdalemississippi #blues #drbillferris #harrysmith @harry_smith_archives (at Clarksdale, Mississippi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZNVfCCvbGd/?utm_medium=tumblr