Meet One of the Most Prolific Artists From Prison Music’s Golden Age

When does a musician's entire life story pour into songs made in prison?This piece introduces us to Morgan White, a name you probably don't know, but whose music echoed through Texas prisons for decades. It's a fascinating dive into the "golden age" of prison music, but more than that, it asks us to consider the powerful human impulse to create, even in the most restrictive environments. What does it mean to find your voice, your art, when your freedom is taken away? And how do those experiences shape the choices you make when you finally get it back? It's a story that resonates far beyond the prison walls.Morgan White's decades-long career as a musician in Texas prisons is chronicled, detailing his prolific output on numerous albums between 1964 and 1982. Based on an interview with White, now 86, the piece explores his experiences with harsh prison conditions, the role of music in his life, and his post-release decision to avoid the professional music industry.Read at source: The Marshall Project