David Bianculli

Roy Bookbinder, the raconteur and acoustic musician known for playing southern blues and hillbilly music, died March 3rd at the age of 82.

Known as the Travelin' Man, or The Book, he picked up the guitar after a tour of duty in the U.S.

Navy, purchasing it in Italy.

Once in the U.S., he became part of the folk and blues revival in New York's Greenwich Village.

He sought out and became a student, and then a friend, of blues and gospel musician Reverend Gary Davis.

Bookbinder also went south to track down one of his favorite performers, Pink Anderson, who had played for decades in medicine shows.

Bookbinder's debut album, Travelin' Man, was released in the early 1970s on Adelphi Records to critical acclaim.

Soon after, he took to the road for years in an Airstream motorhome, traveling to major blues and folk festivals in the U.S.

and Canada, and he also toured in Europe.

He shared the stages with Bonnie Raitt, B.B.

King, Doc Watson, and more.

In the late 1980s, he made nearly 30 appearances on Nashville Now on cable TV's The Nashville Network.

He released more than a dozen albums overall, some on his own label, Peg Leg Records.

In 1987, Roy Bookbinder brought his guitar to fresh air to visit with Terry Gross, play music, and tell some great stories.

Roy Bookbinder in the Fresh Air Studios in 1987.

More after a break.

This is Fresh Air.

Thank you.

Roy Bookbinder, visiting the Fresh Air Studios in 1987.

He died March 3rd at age 82.