The encyclopedia of country music : the ultimate guide to the music

From bluegrass to the Grand Ole Opry, Jimmie Rodgers to Garth Brooks, this is the most accurate, up-to-date, an colourful source of information about country music and its participants available. Compiled by the premier authority on country music, the Country Music Foundation, the Encyclopedia of Country Music provides an eminently readable guide to the singers, songwriters, record companies, and industry movers and shakers who have made country music the increasingly popular - and profitable - juggernaut it is today. Immediately upon publication in 1998, the Encyclopedia of Country Music became a much-loved reference source, prized for the wealth of information it contained on that most American of musical genres. Countless fans have used it as the source for answers to questions about everything from country's first commercially successful recording, to the genre's pioneering music videos, to what conjunto music is. This thoroughly revised new edition includes more than 1,200 A-Z entries covering nine decades of history and artistry, from the Carter Family recordings of the 1920s to the reign of Taylor Swift in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Compiled by a team of experts at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the encyclopedia has been brought completely up-to-date, with new entries on the artists who have profoundly influenced country music in recent years, such as the Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban. The new edition also explores the latest and most critical trends within the industry, shedding light on such topics as the digital revolution, the shifting politics of country music, and the impact of American Idol (reflected in the stardom of Carrie Underwood). Other essays cover the literature of country music, the importance of Nashville as a music center, and the colorful outfits that have long been a staple of the genre. The volume features hundreds of images, including a photo essay of album covers; a foreword by country music superstar Vince Gill (the winner of twenty Grammy Awards); and twelve fascinating appendices, ranging from lists of awards to the best-selling country albums of all time. Winner of the Best Reference Award from the Popular Culture Association'Any serious country music fan will treasure this authoritative book.'--The Seattle Times'A long-awaited, major accomplishment, which educators, historians and students, broadcasters and music writers, artists and fans alike, will welcome and enjoy.'--The Nashville Musician'Should prove a valuable resource to those who work in the country music business. But it's also an entertaining read for the music's true fans.'--Houston Chronicle'This big, handsome volume spans the history of country music, listing not only artists and groups but also important individuals and institutions.'--San Francisco Examiner'Promises to be the definitive historical and biographical work on the past eight decades of country music. Well written and heavily illustratedan unparalleled work, worth its price and highly recommended.'--Library Journal To its millions of fans, country music is America's music, offering a window on the sweet dreams and cruel disappointments of ordinary American lives. Now the renowned Country Music Foundation, custodian of Nashville's legendary Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, has compiled a fascinating and infinitely useful guide to this beloved musical genre-- The Encyclopedia of Country Music . Nearly 1,300 complete and up-to-the-minute alphabetical entries put eight decades of country music at readers' fingertips, from the earliest '20s recordings of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers to the '90s chart-topping albums of LeAnn Rimes and Garth Brooks. A distinguished field of 137 contributors provides an eminently readable and reliable guide to the singers, songwriters, record companies, and industry movers and shakers who have made country music the increasingly popular--and profitable--juggernaut it is today. There are entries for influential radio and television programs, and for key country landmarks from Nashville's Music Row to Bakersfield's Blackboard nightclub. Ten longer essays probe the historical, cultural, religious, artistic, and financial forces shaping country music. Hundreds of photographs, some never before published, accompany the text, including 75 color photographs from the CMF Library's record collection, surveying the history of the country music album cover. Twelve appendices provide lists of country's all-time best-selling albums, country music stations nationwide, all the country music awards won over the years, and much more. Authoritative, accessible, and unerringly accurate, The Encyclopedia of Country Music will delight fans. It is an essential reference for libraries, radio stations, and the entertainment industry. Contents Foreword Introduction Acknowledgments The Entries, A-Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S U-V W X-Y-Z Essay Articles The Look of Country: The Colorful History of Country Music Costuming The Folk and Popular Roots of Country Music The Gospel Truth: Christianity and Country Music Extra! Read All About It!: The Literature of Country Music Country Music as Music The Center of Music City: Nashville's Music Row The Talking Machine: How Records Shaped Country Music It All Begins with a Song: A Brief History of Country Songwriting The South and Country Music From Schoolhouses to Arenas: A History of Country Music Touring Color Section: The Sound Seen Appendices Country Music's All-Time Best-Selling Albums The ASCAP Most Performed Country Song of the Year Awards Country's Share of the U.S. Recorded Music Market Full-time Country Radio Stations in the U.S.A. BMI's Most Performed Country Song of the Year Awards Grand Ole Opry Members and the Dates They Joined the Show's Cast Country Music Hall of Fame Members and Their Years of Election Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Grammy Awards Related to Country Music Country Music Association (CMA) Awards Academy of Country Music Awards Music City News/TNN Awards Contributors To Its Millions Of Fans, Country Music Is America's Music, Offering A Window On The Sweet Dreams And Working Man Blues Of Ordinary American Lives. The Renowned Country Music Foundation, Custodian Of Nashville's Legendary Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum, Has Compiled A Fascinating And Infinitely Useful Guide To This Beloved Music Genre. The Look Of Country: The Colorful History Of Country Music Costuming / Holly George-warren -- The Folk And Popular Roots Of Country Music / Norm Cohen -- The Gospel Truth: Christianity And Country Music / Bill C. Malone -- Extra! Read All About It!: The Literature Of Country Music / Nolan Porterfield -- Country Music As Music / Bill Evans -- The Center Of Music City: Nashville's Music Row / John Lomax Iii -- The Talking Machine: How Records Shaped Country Music / Colin Escott -- It All Begins With A Song: A Brief History Of Country Songwriting / Walter Carter -- The South And Country Music / Bill C. Malone -- From Schoolhouses To Arenas: A History Of Country Music Touring / Ronnie Pugh. Compiled By The Staff Of The Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum ; Edited By Paul Kingsbury With The Assistance Of Laura Garrard, Daniel Cooper, And John Rumble. Includes Discographies. Nearly 1,300 complete and up-to-the-minute alphabetical entries put eight decades of country music at readers' fingertips, from the earliest '20s recordings of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers to the '90s chart-topping albums of LeAnn Rimes and Garth Brooks. A field of 137 contributors provides a readable and reliable guide to the singers, songwriters, record companies, and industry movers and shakers who have made country music the increasingly popular - and profitable - juggernaut it is today. Hollywood-based Abbott Records was an important independent label in country music in the early 1950s. An authoritative encyclopedia of American country music offers nearly 1,300 articles