America's Music: Bluegrass : A History of Bluegrassmusic in the Words of Its Pioneers [Paperback]

Barry R. Willis (Author), Dick Weissman (Author, Editor), Art Menius (Editor), Bob Cherry (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 1997

This huge book is a history of bluegrass music in the words of its pioneers. Hundreds of interviews are accented with 400 plus photos and 26 chapters, which cover every aspect of bluegrass music. Chapters include: Biographies, Business, Women in Bluegrass, the Festivals, Instruments, Record Companies, International Music and even The Future of Bluegrass.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Barry Willis has a passion for bluegrass music, its history and its people. A fan for years, when he sought to understand what bluegrass was all about, he took copious notes and interviewed hundereds of the music's most important protagonists. Now with this monumental work under his belt and getting great acceptance amongst even the most hardcore bluegrass individuals, Willis now leads workshops and seminars on the history of bluegrass music. Willis is an airline pilot by profession; he has been flying since 1965. He also likes golf.

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Pine Valley Music (October 3, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965240703
• ISBN-13: 978-0965240703
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,871,412 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The who's who and the who was of Bluegrass Music industry, February 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: America's Music: Bluegrass : A History of Bluegrassmusic in the Words of Its Pioneers (Paperback)

A very good history of the Bluegrass Music industry. I use this book often. It includes many bands, artist, song writers, sidemen and women plus other bluegrass industry people.

Mary Bluegrass World

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Story Of The Music From The Musicians' Perspective.., January 24, 2006

By 

Bill Turner (Old Bridge, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: America's Music: Bluegrass : A History of Bluegrassmusic in the Words of Its Pioneers (Paperback)

Over the past 30 years, Bluegrass music has gained the scholarly recognition previously attained by Classical music, and more recently by Jazz, to the point of where there are now quite a number of serious books written on the subject, albeit mostly from a musicologist's interpretation. Fortunately, these scholars also happen to be ardent fans of the music, and for the most part we are spared the dryness of the strictly analytical presentation of the subject. "America's Music-Bluegrass" goes beyond any of the previously published books on the music, in that Barry Willis lets the MUSICIANS do all the talking, so what we get here, is a 'first person' account of the history--as it happened, by the actual participants as well as the eyewitnesses to the historical events. This feature alone, sets this book apart from the others...absolutely nothing redundant nor plagiarized here. The result is a refreshing comparison of opinions and 'gossip,' describing the same event(s) from different vantage points. Even the music's biggest recording stars and personalities freely speak their mind, and are quoted verbatim.
Within the 631 pages and 25 chapters, Willis covers everything from the Roots of Bluegrass; all the way to the much-speculated 'Future of Bluegrass'...with delightful side trips covering each of the Bluegrass instruments and their most influential exponents. Loaded with rare, candid and many never-before-seen photos, this book is a MUST for any Bluegrass fan, musician and/or record collector.
This is indeed a well-written book.

5.0 out of 5 stars true grass, February 17, 2010

By 

J. Gore "Jman" (Cortland, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: America's Music: Bluegrass : A History of Bluegrassmusic in the Words of Its Pioneers (Paperback)

I bought the book for my father Bill, who is a die-hard bluegrass fan and musician in Cortland, OH (northeast) that I would say lives and breathes the music. We were both impressed with the book, even after I read the reviews. THe best way I can describe it is an encyclopedia on all that is bluegrass. It provides not only a history but an understanding of the roots of the music. Bluegrass is American folk and we should be proud of it as being part of our history - stories passed on for generations, still today.
-Jake-