MUSIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION BIBLIOGRAPHIC CONTROL COMMITTEE: WORKING GROUP ON POPULAR MUSIC MATERIALS Sources for Country and Folk Music Biography and Discography Linda P. Gross, Country Music Foundation COUNTRY MUSIC GENERAL SOURCES Billboard Country Music Sourcebook and Directory. New York: BPI Communications. Annual. This directory, published annually by Billboard magazine, includes lists of country music awards, the year's top 10 country artists, country music organizations and associations, Grand Ole Opry members, music publishers, radio stations, publications and fan clubs. This sourcebook lists the names of artists and the addresses and phone numbers of their managers and booking agents, thereby offering a way to gain information about specific artists. Country: The Music and the Musicians. New York: Country Music Foundation and Abbeville Press, 1988. This substantial and lavishly illustrated volume contains sixteen essays on various aspects of the history of country music by well-respected scholars and journalists. The chapters are roughly divided into three sections: "Origins," "The Golden Age of Hillbilly Music," and "Contemporary Country Coast to Coast." The topics within the sections include early rockabilly, country fans, the lives of country music stars, the business of country music, the changing image of country music, and country music today. There is a selected discography and bibliography compiled by staff of the Country Music Foundation, and an index. Gentry, Linnell. A History and Encyclopedia of Country, Western and Gospel Music. 2nd ed. Nashville, Tenn.: Clairmont Corp., 1969. Most of this book consists of articles reprinted from publications dating from the period 1908-1968. While they provide interesting perspectives on the development of commercial country music, the smaller, second part of the work is more useful for biographical information about pre-1970 country musicians. The entries provide dates and places of birth and death, and information about education, musical affiliations (including band names), broadcasting experience, and record labels. In some cases, there are lists of record albums released, songs recorded, and awards received. Green, Douglas B. Country Roots: The Origins of Country Music. New York: Hawthorn Books, Inc., 1976. This book gives a good overview of country music genres, as the chapters are organized into "old-time music," "blues," "singing cowboys," "bluegrass," "western swing," "gospel music," "rockabilly, country-folk, country rock, and country underground," and "honky-tonk, country pop, and the Nashville sound." Green includes a chronology of events from 1877 to 1975, a discography and bibliography for each genre, and an index. Hitchcock, H. Wiley and Sadie, Stanley, eds. The New Grove Dictionary of American Music. 4 vols. New York: Macmillan Press, 1986. Bill Malone contributed a general article on country music, and there are many other articles on country music artists from Rex Allen, and the Blue Sky Boys, to Dolly Parton, and the Flying Burrito Brothers. There are also articles on music genres such as bluegrass, the Nashville sound, and cowboy music. Kingsbury, Kenn. Kingsbury's Who's Who in Country and Western Music. Culver City, CA: Black Stallion Country Press, 1981. This book contains short biographical sketches of many people involved in the country music business, including artists, musicians, songwriters, record producers, agents and managers. Biographical information can also be found in the photographs of the plaques of Country Music Hall of Fame members who were inducted during the period 1961 to 1980. Kingsbury also includes a list of various country music organizations, and a list of award-winning songs with their writers and publishers. Malone, Bill C. Country Music, U.S.A. Revised Edition. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1985. This book, first published in 1968, is still widely respected as the pioneering and most comprehensive study of the history of country music from its pre-commercial folk roots through the development of the modern country music industry. The book is engaging enough to be read in its entirety, but it is also useful as a reference source because of the extensive index, which includes personal names, places, musical genres, and even song titles. Malone, Bill C. and McCulloh, Judith, eds. Stars of Country Music: Uncle Dave Macon to Johnny Rodriguez. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1975. Although this book is over 15 years old, it is useful for the biographical chapters on 19 individuals or groups, and two essays which focus on the "early pioneers" of country music, and the stars of country music since WWII. The extensive index allows for easy access to names within the whole book. Stambler, Irwin and Landon, Grelun. Encyclopedia of Folk, Country and Western Music. New York: St. Martins Press, 1969. Stambler, Irwin and Landon, Grelun. Encyclopedia of Folk, Country and Western Music. 2nd ed. New York: St. Martins Press, 1983. Together these two editions comprise an extensive list of detailed biographical sketches of country and folk revival musicians. The revised edition (902 pages), focuses mainly on the most popular contemporary artists. The first edition is less comprehensive (396 pages), but it includes entries about some radio shows, lesser-known artists, instruments, musical genres, folklorists and folk festivals not reprinted in the 1983 edition. Entries in both editions include place and date of birth and death and what the performer is known for (singing and or playing an instrument). For band entries, personnel and their instruments are listed. Tudor,Dean and Tudor, Nancy. Grass Roots Music. Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1979. This book is intended to be a "buying guide" to American "Grass Roots" music recordings. The Tudors define grass roots music by including chapters on "British and American Folk Tradition," "Ethnic Music," "Music of the American Folk Revival," as we;; as "Old Time Music," "Bluegrass," "South Western," "Country," "Sacred," and "Troubador" music. Within each chapter, explanations of each genre are followed by relevant literature about the topic, then a list of selected recordings of "standards" and "innovators" for each style. Each recording is given a short review. Includes artist index. Vaughan, Andrew. Who's Who in New Country Music. London: Omnibus Press, 1989. This British publication offers short biographies of American country artists who have gained popularity in the mid-to-late 1980's. The entries primarily focus on artistic style rather than biographical details. Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn's Top Country Singles 1944- l988. Menomonee Falls,Wisc.: Record Research Inc., 1989. This book lists all artists and songs which appeared in the Billboard magazine country charts during the period l944-l988. The first part of the book is arranged alphabetically by artist . Each artist entry includes a list of the recordings in chronological order by date they charted, their peak position on the charts, and the number of weeks spent on the charts. The second part is arranged by song title, with the artist and chart date listed under each song entry. The third section consists of various lists of chart record holders (who had the most hits, etc.). For chart updates after 1988, Whitburn offers an annual Music and Video Yearbook (also published by Record Research), which lists the artists and the songs from the "Hot Country Singles" and the "Top Country Albums" charts right along with the artists from other popular music charts. Wilson, Charles Reagan and Ferris, William, eds. Encyclopedia of Southern Culture. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1989. The section on "Music" in this encyclopedia contains 107 pages devoted to descriptions of musical genres such as blues, bluegrass, honky tonk, Tex-Mex, shapenote, stringband, western swing and zydeco music. Each article is authored by a scholar of that particular musical style. There are also biographical entries on musical artists who innovated or popularized many of the aforementioned genres. Other biographies appear elsewhere in the work. For instance, the entries for Aunt Molly Jackson and Dolly Parton can be found in the section called "Women's Life", and there is an article on Black music in the "Black Life" section. The book contains an extensive index so that individual names can be found easily. GENRE STUDIES Bluegrass Cantwell, Robert. Bluegrass Breakdown: The Making of the Old Southern Sound. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1984. This study contains a stylistic examination which explores in depth the "historical background, the commercial origins, the internal workings, as well as the cultural and social significance" of bluegrass. Includes bibliography and index. Rosenberg, Neil V. Bluegrass: A History. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1985. A thorough examination of the American musical form from its origins in Bill Monroe's band the Blue Grass Boys in the 1940s through the contemporary bluegrass sound of the 1980s. The book is largely a history of the many influential musicians and their contributions to the development of the bluegrass sound. Includes extensive bibliography, discography, and indexes of names, places, events, and song titles. Cajun and Zydeco Music Ancelet, Barry Jean. The Makers of Cajun Music. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1984. The introduction to this book traces the history of the Acadians who settled in Southwest Louisiana, the Cajun people, and their music. The rest of the work contains twelve chapters of interviews with cajun and zydeco musicians. There is a selected discography, a bibliography, and filmography, but no index. Broven, John. South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous. Gretna, La.: Pelican Publishing, 1983. Broven divides his book into three main sections: "Early Cajun and Cajun Country," "Zydeco and Blues," and "Swamp-Pop and the Cajun Revival." Some of the useful features of the book are the appendices including a "South Louisiana Music Time Chart," "Biographical Data" (date and place of birth), "Prominent South Louisiana Bands," "Popular Cajun Singles," and "Recommended Albums." Also includes indexes of names and song titles. Savoy, Ann Allen. Cajun Music: A Reflection of a People. Eunice, La.: Bluebird Press, 1984. This book contains biographies and interviews with many Cajun and zydeco musicians, and musical transcriptions of their songs and tunes. The book is filled with historical as well as contemporary photographs, as well as information about instruments and styles of playing in Cajun music. There is a brief discography and bibliography, but no index. Cowboy Music White, John I. Git Along, Little Dogies: Songs and Songmakers of the American West. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1975. As the subtitle suggests, this book explores the songs and songmakers of Cowboy music and the American West. Some chapters feature information about particular songs, others about the people who sang them. It is useful as a reference tool because of the index. Rockabilly Cooper, B. Lee, and Haney, Wayne. Rockabilly : A Bibliographic Resource Guide. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1990. A bibliography of artists the authors identified with rockabilly music, some easily associated, like Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, and others, such as Linda Ronstadt, not so easily. McNutt, Randy. We Wanna Boogie: An Illustrated History of the American Rockabilly Movement. Hamilton, Ohio: HHP Books, 1988. Describes the origins of rockabilly music, and the associated record labels, singers, and musicians. Includes artist and song title indexes. LOCAL AND REGIONAL STUDIES Daniel, Wayne W. Pickin' on Peachtree: A History of Country Music in Atlanta, Georgia. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1990. Atlanta played an important role in the development of country music from the 1920s through the 1950s. Chapters in this book include "Georgia Old-Time Fiddlers Conventions," "Early Days of Radio," "Atlanta- a Regional Recording Center," "The WSB Barn Dance," and "The Demise of Live Radio, the Birth of Television and Beyond." The book includes a list of suggested readings, a selected discography, and an index. Malone, Bill C. Southern Music/American Music. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1979. Some of the musical genres discussed in this book are closely related to country music: blues, hillbilly, Cajun, and gospel. There is also a chapter on "the national resurgence of country music" of the 1960s and 70s. Includes index. Tribe, Ivan M. Mountaineer Jamboree: Country Music in West Virginia. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1984. Focuses on the early years of country music in West Virginia, Wheeling, especially, the site of "WWAA Jamboree" which broadcast from 1926 through the 1950s. Tribe also discusses the contributions of West Virginians into the 1980s. (Since then, the show has been revived in modified form.) Includes index. Wolfe, Charles K. Kentucky Country: Folk and Country Music of Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1982. A few of Kentucky's contributions to country music include Bradley Kincaid, Grandpa Jones, the Coon Creek Girls, Bill Monroe, Red Foley, Merle Travis, and Loretta Lynn. This book traces the history of country music in Kentucky from folk ballads, string bands, the "Renfro Valley Barn Dance" radio show, and bluegrass musicians to modern country performers. Includes suggestions for further reading and an index. Wolfe, Charles K. Tennessee Strings: The Story of Country Music in Tennessee. Knoxville, University of Tennessee Press, 1977. Before the Grand Ole Opry, and before Nashville had become the center of the country music industry, country music developed in Tennessee "from sources as diverse as rural ballads and fiddle music, church music of the country singing conventions, and the black music of the Southwestern delta area." Wolfe explores all of these sources. He offers "selected resources on country music" and an index. OTHER RESOURCES Country Music Foundation Library and Media Center. 4 Music Square East. Nashville,TN 37203. (615) 256- 1639. The collections and the staff of the CMF are a valuable resource for country music research. The library collection includes approximately 7,000 books, 3,000 serial titles (400 current), 150,000 sound recordings (including 78 rpm, 45 rpm, LPs, video and film), 1,000 oral history interviews, and a vertical file collection containing newspaper clippings, press releases, magazine articles, and publicity materials for over 1500 artists, record companies, musical events and venues. The library is open to the public by appointment or by phone Monday through Thursday 10:00-12:00 and 1:00-5:00. There are no fees for simple ready-reference inquiries, but fees are applied for in-depth research. International Fan Club Organization. P.O. Box 177, Wild Horse, CO 80862-0177. (719) 962-3543. This organization publishes a list of fan clubs of well-known as well as obscure country music artists, and the names and addresses of the fan club presidents. Many fan clubs publish newsletters. FOLK MUSIC Baggelaar, Kristin and Milton, Donald. Folk Music: More Than a Song. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1976. This book is a good encyclopedia of traditional and revivalist folk musicians. The book lists members of groups not only in the group entry, but also as individuals with a "see" reference to the group. There are also entries for folk festivals and venues, publications, and terms and genres such as "bluegrass," "Cajun music," and "Folk process." Bartis, Peter T. and Fertig, Barbara C. Folklife Sourcebook: A Directory of Folklife Resources in the United States and Canada. Washington, DC: American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, 1986. Lists resources for information about folklife (which would include folk music) at the federal and state levels, and lists societies, museums, periodicals, archives, record companies and directories which feature folklore and folklife. (Updated information can be obtained from the American Folklife Center. See "Other resources," below.) Brunnings, Florence E. Folk Song Index: A Comprehensive Guide to the Florence E. Brunnings Collection. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1981. Nearly 50,000 folk songs are indexed from 1,115 published song collections and 695 sound recordings. While there is no information about the collections or singers, it is large, useful descriptive list of songs and recordings in the folk genre. Harris, Craig. The New Folk Music. Crown Point, IN: White Cliffs Media Co., 1991. Short biographies of 100 contemporary folk artists from the 1960s to 1990. The artists are divided into categories of "The Old School," "Singer-songwriters," "Bluegrass," "Blues," "Louisiana," British Isles," "New Instrumentals," and "World Music." There is also a short bibliography of suggested reading, and a selected discography of featured performers. Hitchcock, H. Wiley and Sadie, Stanley, eds. The New Grove Dictionary of American Music. 4 vols. New York: Macmillan Press, 1986. There is a lengthy article on folk music by Bruno Nettl, and general articles about folk instruments, such as the banjo, folk music collectors, such as John Jacob Niles, and folk music genres such as field hollers, gospel and shape-note singing. Hood, Phil. Artists of American Folk Music: Legends of Traditional Folk, the Stars of the Sixties, the Virtuosi of New Acoustic Music. New York: Quill, 1986. A collection of 31 interviews with musicians which appeared in Guitar Player and Frets magazines from 1970 to 1985. Lawless, Ray M. Folksingers and Folksongs in America: A Handbook of Biography, Bibliography and Discography. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1960. Though this work is over 30 years old, it contains brief biographies of some 225 "singers of folksongs," both traditional singers and singers from the folk song revival. There is also a list of folksong collections and collectors, as well as a check-list of folksong titles, and a list of LPs. Sandberg, Larry and Weissman, Dick. The Folk Music Sourcebook. New York: Da Capo, 1989. This book is a new, updated version of the edition that was first published in 1976. The first part of the work contains an annotated listing of sound recordings of traditional music of North America including "Black American Music," "North American Indian Music," "Cajun Music," "Anglo-American Music," and "Contemporary Music and the Folksong Revival." This section helps to identify performance styles of particular recordings. The rest of the work contains a list of books about the various kinds of music and how to play them, along with a list of folk music organizations, centers, and archives which are useful resources for information. Stambler, Irwin and Landon, Grelun. Encyclopedia of Folk, Country and Western Music. New York: St. Martins Press, 1969. Stambler, Irwin and Landon, Grelun. Encyclopedia of Folk, Country and Western Music.2nd ed. New York: St. Martins Press, 1983. See annotation under "Country Music." Tudor,Dean and Tudor, Nancy. Grass Roots Music. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1979. See annotation under "Country Music." OTHER RESOURCES American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Washington, DC 20540. (202) 707-6590. The American Folklife Center maintains the Archive of Folk Culture, whose collection includes non-published sound recordings, videotapes, photographs, motion pictures, reference books and periodicals. The reference staff will respond to questions by mail, phone, or appointments in the reading room. The Archive also publishes a wide range of bibliographies and finding aids. The staff of the Folklife Center conducts research in different areas of the United States, and would be able to identify local folklife resources in your area. END OF FILE