Staff Picks
Are You Ready for the Country?
- Bland L.
- Thursday, September 12, 2019
Collection
If you’re one of the many people looking forward to the first episode of Ken Burns’s documentary Country Music, to air on PBS on September 15, you might want to supplement your viewing with some of Richland Library’s books on this most American of music genres. Whether your tastes run toward classic country, alt-country, Americana, or somewhere in between, we’ve got you covered! You can even place a hold on the Ken Burns series, which is already on order.
Country Music
Published in 2019
Ken Burns chronicles the history of a uniquely American art form, rising from the experiences of remarkable people in distinctive regions of the nation. From its roots in ballads, hymns, and the blues to its mainstream popularity, meet the unforgettable characters and storytellers who made it 'America's Music.' Viewers will follow the evolution of country music over the course of the twentieth century as it eventually emerged to become America's music.
The Encyclopedia of Country Music
The Ultimate Guide to the Music
Published in 2012
Covers the important figures, trends, and forms of country music throughout its history--from the Carter Family of the 1920s to Taylor Swift and Keith Urban today.
Growing Up Country
Published in 2006
Woman Walk the Line
How the Women in Country Music Changed Our Lives
Published in 2017
Full-tilt, hardcore, down-home, and groundbreaking, the women of country music speak volumes with every song. From Maybelle Carter to Dolly Parton, k.d. lang to Taylor Swift--these artists provided pivot points, truths, and doses of courage for women writers at every stage of their lives. Whether it's Rosanne Cash eulogizing June Carter Cash or a seventeen-year-old Taylor Swift considering the golden glimmer of another precocious superstar, Brenda Lee, it's the humanity beneath the music that resonates.
Chinaberry Sidewalks
Published in 2011
Recounts the author's experiences growing up in Houston in the 1950s as the only child of an alcoholic father and epileptic mother, describing a coming-of-age marked by barroom brawls, apocalyptic hurricanes, and wild improvisations in the face of unpaidbills.
Never Look at the Empty Seats
A Memoir
Published in 2017
"Readers will experience a soft, personal side of Charlie Daniels that has never before been documented. In his own words, he presents the path from his post-depression childhood to performing for millions as one of the most successful country acts of all time and what he has learned along the way. The book also includes insights into the many musicians that orbited Charlie’s world, including Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette and many more"--Google Books.
Johnny Cash
The Life and Legacy of the Man in Black
Published in 2018
"An illustrated biography of Johnny Cash that tells his life story through never-before-seen personal photographs and memorabilia from the Cash family"-- Provided by publisher.
Satan is Real
The Ballad of the Louvin Brothers
Published in 2012
Presents the story of the country music duo the Louvin Brothers, comprised of Charlie, a gospel singer, and Ira, an alcoholic, mandolin-smashing hellraiser who was banned from the Grand Ole Opry after his wife shot him for trying to choke her.
Meeting Jimmie Rodgers
How America's Original Roots Music Hero Changed the Pop Sounds of a Century
Published in 2009
Tammy Wynette
Tragic Country Queen
Published in 2010
The first full-scale biography of the enduring first lady of country music.
Dwight Yoakam
A Thousand Miles from Nowhere
Published in 2012
Chronicles the musical life of the country star who has made a career of blending disparate influences, drawing on interviews to explore his authenticity and success as an artist.
It's a Long Story
My Life
Published in 2015
The iconic Country Music Hall of Fame artist and 10-time Grammy winner shares the story of his personal life and career, from his early ambitions and indelible relationships through his bankruptcy and founding of Farm Aid.
Buck 'em!
The Autobiography of Buck Owens
Published in 2013
The country music legend tells his life story, describing his early years in Texas, his glory years of the 1960s, his failed marriages, and his days as the host of a local television show in Tacoma.
Diary of a Player
How My Musical Heroes Made a Guitar Man out of Me
Published in 2011
The country music superstar shares what the guitar has meant to him as a means of finding his own voice, who inspired his love of music, and memorable stories about the many great guitar players he has encountered over the years.
Outlaw
Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and the Renegades of Nashville
Published in 2013
"A definitive look at the outlaw country music movement, [Outlaw] follows the stories of three legendary icons--Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson--as they redefined country music in the late '60s and early '70s, set in the rich backdrop of Nashville"--Provided by publisher.
From This Moment on
Published in 2011
From bestselling and award-winning country/pop star Shania Twain, an exploration of her hard-scrabble childhood and rise to worldwide fame.