The Alabama Writers’ Forum
The Alabama Writers’ Forum, a partnership program of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, works to cultivate our state’s literary culture. We do that through supporting writers at all stages. We encourage our young writers to find their creative voice through the Father Goose Poetry Festival for Kids!–and through our Alabama High School Literary Arts Awards. We support the work of our state’s literary community through our Alabama Authors Directory, First Draft magazine, and other programming and opportunities for writers across the state. And we celebrate our state’s rich literary legacy through the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. We are, above all, a community of writers united by our desire to advance the literary arts in Alabama. If that describes you — join us! There are many ways to get involved.
A History of Birmingham Rock & Roll
A History of Birmingham Rock & Roll: A Trading Card Collection By Craig Legg Foreword by Burgin Matthews Introduction by Mark Harrelson Preface by the artist Sealegs Press, 2025 Hardcover: $60.00 Genre: Nonfiction Reviewed by Danny Gamble With A History of Birmingham Rock & Roll: A Trading Card Collection, artist, poet, bohemian raconteur Craig Legg has nearabout captured the essence of the Magic City’s musical heritage. According to the book’s subtitle, Legg has assembled 350+ images of Birmingham-linked music aficionados from native son and Allman Brothers Band and Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell to Charlemagne and Renaissance Records resident human encyclopedia Jimmy Griffin. From there, viewers/readers will encounter like-minded individuals in chapters that offer a wide variety of subgroups, some arranged chronologically, others by genre, memorable concerts, or live music venues. Rock radio plays a role as well. In his Preface, Legg writes, “I am self-taught, certainly no ‘fine’ artist, rather a primitive.” Birmingham photographer Elizabeth Wyngarden Limbaugh, a collector of Legg’s art, agrees: “Craig’s painting style is elementary in a most whimsical way: folksy enough to be charming, serious enough to be taken seriously.” Huntsville-based artist Stanford Heatherly defines Legg’s art as “Post folk with a nod toward Reverend Howard Finster.” Legg also writes, “And while the paintings are [...]
