Charles K. Wolfe (1943–2006)

This is an absolutely terrific account of the first fifteen or so years of the Opry. The book's mostly about the musicians, and is based on interviews with then-surviving musicians and their families, mostly conducted in the 1970s. This was supplemented by some excellent research. Wolfe, moreover, writes well. It's an excellent book.

Potential readers should be aware that the book stops at 1940. Folks who want more recent history--and, incidentally, more information about Nashville's show more development into Music City, should probably also (note that also) read Craig Havighurst's Air Castle of the South. show less

Life of Huddie Ledbetter "Leadbelly" famous African-American folk and blues musician with crimina;lpast' based on material from his family and other research; vivid account of African-American life in the south from about 1890 to the 1950s. Intersting to me because much of the early part is set in the Shreveport, LA area where my mother lived slightly later.

"story of country music in Tennessee"