John Lomax Jr.

Lomax encouraged his folklorist father to embark on a second tour of the country, lecturing at universities and other groups while hunting down folk songs to add to his burgeoning collection.

As an auditor, his frequent travels across the country gave him the opportunity to find new folk songs, which he would send to his father to record for the Library of Congress.

[4] At the age of 34, Lomax enlisted in the Navy[1] and rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer and trained new recruits to swim.

[2] He and his partner, Earl Gilbert, built several subdivisions in southern and northern parts of Houston, most notably Melrose Park and Southbrook.

[4] In 1951, Lomax founded the Houston Folklore & Music Society with Ed Badeaux, Harold V. Belikoff, Howie Porper, Pete Rose, and Chester Bower.

[6] The HFMS’s ranks included Buster Pickens, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb, Townes Van Zandt, Frank Davis, Lucinda Williams, Guy Clark, and K.T.

The HFMS staged group concerts in the Jewish Community Center and the University of Houston, while solo acts frequented the club circuit.

[3] Lomax was responsible for introducing filmmaker Les Blank to Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb, and Clifton Chenier.

Lomax also contributed "Long John" to the 1972 album, Rod Kennedy Presents Kerrville Folk Festival, joining Peter Yarrow, Mance Lipscomb, Steve Fromholz, Carolyn Hester, and others.

Lomax wrote an introduction for the book and it was published as Cow Trails & Cattle Camps by William D. Wittliff's Encino Press.