The Legend of Wesley Porter and the Phantom of the Allagash
After four books and two detective magazines that related Wesley's story, I decided it was time to write a song to tell the amazing tale of the murder of Wesley Porter and the lengthy 66-day search for his killer, known at the time
as "The Phantom of the Allagash".
I wrote the song with an ear to making it an immersive experience, and am creating a video of some
unique area photography, overlaid with narration and then the song. I intended for the tune
to have an old-timey folksy Appalachian feel, with some bluegrass and Native American overtones.
as "The Phantom of the Allagash".
I wrote the song with an ear to making it an immersive experience, and am creating a video of some
unique area photography, overlaid with narration and then the song. I intended for the tune
to have an old-timey folksy Appalachian feel, with some bluegrass and Native American overtones.
The areas in which Wesley and his band of fishermen wandered in the North Maine Woods in Penobscot
and Piscataquis counties, and where the searchers for the killer later roamed in Aroostook county,
are particularly wild and untamed and hauntingly beautiful.
Parts of their journey included areas now known as Baxter State Park
and Maine's newest national monument, Katahdin Woods and Waters.
I'll publish the lyrics here soon, with chords if you'd like to play along, and include the video. Once complete, I plan
to release a free MP3 sound file for download under a Creative Commons attribution license,
so you can listen free on your phone, tablet or computer.
The song is being recorded primarily with acoustic instruments, including:
Native American Spirit Flute
Acoustic guitar
5-string banjo
Mandolin
Autoharp
Piano
Bowed Psaltery
Harmonica
Spoons for percussion
Stay tuned!
and Piscataquis counties, and where the searchers for the killer later roamed in Aroostook county,
are particularly wild and untamed and hauntingly beautiful.
Parts of their journey included areas now known as Baxter State Park
and Maine's newest national monument, Katahdin Woods and Waters.
I'll publish the lyrics here soon, with chords if you'd like to play along, and include the video. Once complete, I plan
to release a free MP3 sound file for download under a Creative Commons attribution license,
so you can listen free on your phone, tablet or computer.
The song is being recorded primarily with acoustic instruments, including:
Native American Spirit Flute
Acoustic guitar
5-string banjo
Mandolin
Autoharp
Piano
Bowed Psaltery
Harmonica
Spoons for percussion
Stay tuned!