Al Black may be remembered as the best salesman of all the Highwaymen, and he also may be remembered as an exceptionally talented conman. His ability to charm a prospective customer or journalist, even while you know you may be hearing exaggerations, is what marks his personality. He readily draws you in with his stories, and most people who meet him report that he is surprisingly likable, in spite of his somewhat questionable background. To his friends, he was affectionately called “Blood,” referring to Young Blood or Good Blood.

Black was born in 1947 near Jackson, Mississippi, on a Barlow plantation to a poor, farm worker family. It is probable that he heard Old Master or John stories when he grew up. These are trickster tales wh...