Great country music stars Author:Andy Gray Country music has millions of followers all over the world. It has more talented songwriters than any other form of music today. It has the best instrumental and vocal performers. Hit records follow each other in rapid succession from the studios of Nashville, the headquarters of country music. — Country music is solemn, funny, tender or aggressi... more »ve. It is the music of the people, and no subject is outside the scope: songs are nostalgic or full of protest, or they tell a story or set a mood. The appeal of country music is universal, and it lies in the warmth, vigour and tunefulness of the songs.
This book records the development of country music from its beginnings as the self made music of the poor and lonely to the present day, where it forms the basis of a vast performing and recording industry. The history is traced through the stories of the stars and their songs. Thus the early chapters contain names like the Carter Family, Cecil Sharp, Stephen Foster, Vernon Dalhart, Ralph Peer, Jimmie Rodgers. Then there's Roy Acuff, cowboy Gene Autry, Eddy Arnold and the tragic Hank Williams. After a break to celebrate the Grand Old Opry, the famous country music show, the story is resumed and taken into the 'sixites and 'seventies with the late Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and the rest of todays stars.
New converts to country music will find that this book gives them a good outline of what country music is and why it is so popular, old fans will enjoy recalling with the author the songs and stars of the past and present.
20 colour and approx 200 black and white photographs.« less