First Generation of Country Music Stars: Biographies of 50 Artists Born Before 1940
This book focuses on 50 of the most important entertainers in the history of country music, from its beginnings in the folk music of early America through the 1970s. Divided into five distinct categories, it discusses the pioneers who brought mountain music to mass audiences; cowboys and radio stars who spread country music countrywide; honky-tonk and bluegrass musicians who differentiated country music during the 1940s; the major contributions that female artists made to the genre; and the...
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This book focuses on 50 of the most important entertainers in the history of country music, from its beginnings in the folk music of early America through the 1970s. Divided into five distinct categories, it discusses the pioneers who brought mountain music to mass audiences; cowboys and radio stars who spread country music countrywide; honky-tonk and bluegrass musicians who differentiated country music during the 1940s; the major contributions that female artists made to the genre; and the modern country sound which dominated the genre from the late 1950s to the mid-1980s. Each entry includes a brief biography of the chosen artist with special emphasis on experiences which influenced their musical careers. Covered musicians include Fiddlin' John Carson, Riley Puckett, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Bob Wills, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, Sr., Dale Evans, June Carter Cash, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard.
Preface 1Introduction 3The Pioneers 9Fiddlin' John Carson (1868-1949): The Virginia Reeler 11Uncle Dave Macon (1870-1952): King of the Hillbillies 14Dr. Humphrey Bate (1875-1936): The Possum Hunter 17Vernon Dalhart (1883-1948): A Country Star 20Gid Tanner (1885-1960): The Skillet Licker 23A.P. Carter (1891-1960): Family Patriarch 28Charlie Poole (1892-1931): North Carolina Rambler 32E.V. "Pop" Stoneman (1893-1968): Country Patriarch 35Riley Puckett (1894-1946): Blind Ambition 39Jimmie Rodgers (1897-1933): The Singing Brakeman 42Cowboys and Radio Stars 49Ken Maynard (1895-1973): Wagon Master 51Roy Acuff (1903-1992): Wabash Cannonball 54Wilf Carter (1904-1996): Montana Slim 60Tex Ritter (1907-1974): Lone Star Cowboy 63Gene Autry (1907-1998): The Singing Cowboy 67Red Foley (1910-1968): The Mainstream Voice 72Roy Rogers (1911-1998): Happy Trails Forever 76Hank Snow (1914-1999): The Travelin' Canadian 79Merle Travis (1917-1983): The Individualist 84Eddy Arnold (1918-): The Tennessee Plowboy 88Western Swing/Bluegrass/Honky Tonk 95Bob Wills (1905-1975): The Western Swing King 97Bill Monroe (1911-1996): The Bluegrass Rambler 104Ernest Tubb (1914-1984): The Texas Troubadour 112Lester Flatt (1914-1979): Flat Pickin' 118Hank Williams, Sr. (1923-1953): Life to Legend 123Earl Scruggs (1924-): Dueling Banjoist 132Hank Thompson (1925-): Texas Swing 137Ray Price (1926-): Cherokee Cowboy 141George Jones (1931-): Honky Took Texan 146Women of Country Music 157Sara Carter (1899-1979): Wildwood Flower 159Maybelle Carter (1909-1978): Country Matriarch 163Dale Evans (1912-2001): Queen of the Cowgirls 167Kitty Wells (1918-): Queen of Country Music 170Molly O'Day (1923-1987): A Defining Role 174June Carter Cash (1929-2003): A Song in Her Heart 177Patsy Cline (1932-1963): A Country Music Treasure 180Loretta Lynn (1934-): Coal Miner Heartbreak 187Wanda Jackson (1937-): Country Music Heart 192Outlaws, Rebels and Superstars 197Chet Atkins (1924-2001): The Superpicker 199Marty Robbins (1925-1982): The Country Chameleon 205Buck Owens (1929-2006): Baron of Bakersfield 212Johnny Cash (1932-2003): The Man in Black 218Charlie Rich (1932-1995): The Silver Fox 229Glen Campbell (1936-): Rhinestone Cowboy 234Roy Clark (1933-): Lightning Fingers 240Willie Nelson (1933-): Austin Outlaw 245Conway Twitty (1933-1993): Uncrowned King 255Waylon Jennings (1937-2002): Ladies Love Outlaws 262Merle Haggard (1937-): Lonesome Fugitive 269Kenny Rogers (1938-): The Gambler 277Bibliography 285Index 289
