Gordon is gone.
One of the most enduring collectors of Ozarks folk culture, Gordon McCann spent decades of his life building relationships, recording (with a literal recorder) stories and songs from across the region, playing music, and serving as a point-of-contact for folks from “off” who wanted to learn more about the Ozarks. His immense collection of recordings – about 3,000 hours of tape – books and ephemera is now part of Missouri State University Libraries, where it will be preserved.
Just a few minutes before midnight on July 17, Gordon left this earth at age 94. There is much to say about his life and work, and I hope many of those stories will circulate in the coming days. At this moment, I want to share a few thoughts I have after getting to know Gordon over the past few years…