Southwest Shuffle (Hardcover)

by Rich Kienzle (Author) "Anyone who's read James Ellroy's L.A. Confidential or his novella Dick Contino's Blues has noticed the name Spade Cooley strung through the fictional text..." (more)
Key Phrases: fiddle section, steel guitarist, western swing band, Bob Wills, West Coast, Spade Cooley (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Kienzie has put together an absorbing and eminently readable account of an important period of music history that's often overlooked, filled as it is with engaging stories and personalities. Any self-respecting fan of the genre should hunt this book down.
–The Austin Chronicle, June 2003

Kienzie has put together an absorbing and eminently readable account of an important period of music history thats often overlooked, filled as it is with engaging stories and personalities. Any self-respecting fan of the genre should hunt this book down.
–The Austin Chronicle, June 2003

Kienzle is an encyclopedic authority on U.S. country and western music. His enthusiasms are intense and persuasive -- if you like anything at all about the genre, which is far from universal fondness. Here, in a scholarly but thoroughly readable volume, Kienzle explores the Southwest element of the genre, quite distinct -- especially before the 1950s -- from the more traditional Southeastern and Midwestern species. Even the casual fan can hear from memory the voices of Tennessee Ernie Ford, Hank Thompson and Willie Nelson, who figure strongly here. But there are a dozen other main players, and legions of lesser ones. A fine piece of cultural journalism about a powerful engine of music and poetry.
–Michael Pakenham, The Baltimore Sun

Kienzle, with the gift of a storyteller combined with the details of a professor's research, shows off our state's music roots in his book Southwest Shuffle, a must for anyone interested in the annals of country and Western music, a link to rock 'n roll, swing and rhythm and blues styles that owe a lot to country boogie.
–Daily Oklahoman

Kienzle, with the gift of a storyteller combined with the details of a professors research, shows off our states music roots in his book Southwest Shuffle, a must for anyone interested in the annals of country and Western music, a link to rock n roll, swing and rhythm and blues styles that owe a lot to country boogie.
–Daily Oklahoman

Product Description
While Nashville has long been considered the epicenter of country music, Southwest Shuffle documents the important influence of country music styles of the region stretching from Texas to California. Less conservative, more geared to dancing and dazzling instrumental prowess, it was in many ways the opposite of the Grand Ole Opry's conservative styles. Southwestern singers, bands and instrumentalists left a profound and enduring impact on country music--and Nashville to this day. It was the basis of the legendary Bakersfield Sound exemplified by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.

In this book you'll read about: Spade Cooley, the fiddler whose band incorporated highly sophisticated, smooth musical ideas into Western Swing, his career cut short by his imprisonment for murdering his wife in 1961l; Hank Thompson, a Texan whose hits reflected a durable meld of barroom music and Western Swing that anticipated George Strait; Ray Price, the Hank Williams protege whose intense vocals and "shuffle" rhythms created a style still popular today, and stood firm amid the popularity of elvis; Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West, legendary California pickers whose incendiary instrumental records and accompaniment behind others earned the nickname "The Flaming Guitars" Tennessee Ernie Ford, the onetime disc jockey who went from local LA TV star to a household word in the 50s and Willie Nelson, who struggled for years in the Nashville wilderness, convinced someday his Texas-style eclecticism would prevail, as it did. The book also includes the true story of Bob Wills's 1944 face off with the Grand Ole Opry over his use of drums, and much more.

These stories are based on original interviews and archival research by one of the most respected writers on this period of country history. Kienzle's vibrant writing reflects his long-time love for these musical styles. Southwest Shuffle will stand beside our Classic Country as a landmark book on American popular music. It will enthrall everyone from the new-country to alt-country fan to the hardcore traditionalist.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (April 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415941024
• ISBN-13: 978-0415941020
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,106,921 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars southwest shuffle, July 20, 2003

By	Hugh Mathews (Chelsea, Ok USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Southwest Shuffle (Paperback)

great book.

Great book. I buy all books Rich writes. The only writer that does his research about guitar players. He always gives credit to other authors when he quotes their material.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating survey of the pioneers of honky-tonk, July 26, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Southwest Shuffle (Paperback)

Southwest Shuffle by Rich Kienzle is a fascinating survey of the pioneers of honky-tonk, Western swing and country jazz music considers the evolution of musical styles and talents alike, from swing fiddler Spade Cooley to country musician Willie Nelson. The focus on musician interactions, collaborations and influences across genres is particularly insightful and rich in this fine history.

5.0 out of 5 stars Early country outside Nashville, August 9, 2003

By	Janice Brooks (pleasant gap, pa USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Southwest Shuffle (Paperback)

All the bases for early country releases from Capital with a chapter on Ray Price. I also love the indeph mentions of the musicians particuarly the steel guitar players(not just Speedy
West).