Comics Grinder

David Lasky is the coauthor, with Frank M. Young, of the graphic novel, “The Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song.” It has been a treat to observe Mr. Lasky’s evolution as an artist. He always loves a challenge and, with this book, he realized early on this was a project that would take years to get right. Sensitive to the human condition, his artistry reveals A.P. Carter and Sara Dougherty Carter for who they were while leaving something to mystery. Like the Mona Lisa’s smile, there is only so much we can know. Mr. Lasky used dip pens of the time to help capture the pace of a bygone era but he also employs a contemporary sensibility in drawing out the drama of these characters. This is the story of the early years of country music giving way to the early years of radio and beyond.

“The Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song” is published by Abrams ComicArts. This is a 192-page hardcover book in full color with a CD of Carter Family songs. Visit the Abrams ComicArts site.

Frank M. Young is the coauthor, with David Lasky, of the graphic novel, “The Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song.” The book is an in-depth look at one of the leading families of country/folk music. Their story spans the 20th Century and is as much a history of American popular music as it is the story of a family with its leading characters, the patriarch, A.P. Carter, and the matriarch, Sara Dougherty Carter. That these two were not exactly going to have an easy time of it is pretty clear from the start. But, despite their innocence and stubbornness, they would conjure up mesmerizing music to grace the newfound radio airwaves.

In this interview, Mr. Young’s enthusiasm for his subject is contagious. He is quite intrigued by the relationship of A.P. Carter and Sara Carter, two unlikely stars of popular music. But it was A.P. Carter’s ability to recognize a compelling tune and Sara Carter’s haunting voice that could not go unnoticed. Anyone looking for an authentic American grassroots sound would do well to discover The Carter Family. Their story in this book follows their rise, the conflicts and challenges, and the aftermath of an amazing journey into early American show business.

“The Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song” is published by Abrams ComicArts. This is a 192-page hardcover book in full color with a CD of Carter Family songs. Visit the Abrams ComicArts site.