| CHRISTMAS AT COUNTY SALES 2002 |
| Books |
BOOK: ORANGE BLOSSOM BOYS By Randy Noles (Center Stream Pub, 2002) 216 pp. softbound. (comes with a CD) From Florida himself (Orlando), author Noles has put together this interesting book by weaving the lives of two country fiddlers of that state _ Ervin Rouse and Chubby Wise - around the story of the bestknown fiddle tune of our time, the ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL. Though it never fully answers the question of just what part Wise had in the composition of this show piece that paid tribute to a famous New York to Florida passenger train, it does give us a good picture of the lives of Rouse and Wise and the type of life experienced by musical sidemen before and shortly after the second World War. Rouse, who only made a handful of records, was leader of a musical family that roamed the country to eke out a living over several decades, finally being recognized late in his life by Johnny Cash. Chubby Wise's story is fascinating in itself when we are reminded that in addition to being a charter member of the most famous Bluegrass group ever (Bill Monroe's band with Flatt & Scruggs), Wise had a long career with Hank Snow, played with the York Brothers and many other country groups, and was a key member of Connie B. Gay's Washington, DC country music scene. (In the latter capacity he played with Patsy Cline, Jimmy Dean, Roy Clark, the Bluegrass Champs (Stoneman Family) and others in that area including Red Allen and Frank Wakefield.) There are lots of fascinating little facts here, and the book includes a CD that contains the Rouse Brothers original recording of the train classic, along with versions by Benny Martin and several others. The author has a bit of a problem with names, referring to fiddler Tommy Vaden as Varden, Little Roy Lewis as Ray Lewis, and calling early New England fiddle champ Mellie Dunham a woman. But these are minor flaws in a generally well-written and enjoyable book. PRICE: $ 30.00
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BOOK: WILL YOU MISS ME WHEN I’M GONE by Mark Zwonitzer (Simon & Shuster, 2002) 418 pp. Hardbound. A fine and fascinating work here by Zwonitzer, who has obviously done a lot of first-hand research on all the members of the Carter Family, Virginia’s first family of Country music. In a thorough and engrossing work, the author covers the family’s extensive recording career, from their discovery by Ralph Peer in 1927 to their Acme 78’s of the 1950’s, and on into the various efforts of Maybelle and her children, the Carter Sisters. At the same time, Zwonitzer does not shy away from the personal lives of A. P., Sara & Maybelle, and the strange forces that ultimately led to A. P. and Sara’s divorce, a sad and almost unspeakable event for a proud mountain family. Ample space is given to Maybelle and her 3 daughters’ various musical experiences, and June Carter’s marriage to Johnny Cash, etc. Also to A. P.’s friendships with black guitarist Lesley Riddle and later Bluegrass musician Bill Clifton. A book that Carter Family fans will find hard to put down. PRICE: $ 22.50
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BOOK: BLUEGRASS - A HISTORY by Neil Rosenberg (University of Illinois Press, 1985 452 pp., softbound with photos. THE book on bluegrass music, this is the definitive history with many fascinating chapters documenting Monroe's early years, origins of the festival scene, the folk music revival, bluegrass in the media, bluegrass consumers, etc. A must for any serious fan of bluegrass.
PRICE: $ 17.50
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BOOK: A GOOD NATURED RIOT by Charles K. Wolfe (Vanderbilt Univ. Press) 312 pp. An extremely well written and beautifully presented book on the birth and early history of the Grand Ole Opry. Copious photographs of early groups and musicians, many of which I have never seen before. Hardbound with 312 pages. A must read for those interested in the history of Bluegrass, early country music and radio. PRICE: $ 27.50
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BOOK: IN THE COUNTRY OF COUNTRY by Nicholas Dawidoff (Random House, 1997) 332 pp., hardbound. In one of the best-written recent books on country music, Dawidoff explores with keen insight the lives of some of the more interesting, personalities of the music, such as LOUVIN BROTHERS, CARTER FAMILY, DOC WATSON, JOHNNY CASH, GEORGE JONES, BILL MONROE, and RALPH STANLEY. PRICE: $ 25.00
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BOOK: TENNESSEE MUSIC — It's People & Places by Peter Zimmerman (Miller-Freeman, 1998) 296 pp softbound. Attractive & informative guide to all types of rural music in Tennessee, including Old-Time, Blues, Gospel, Bluegrass, Country & New Acoustic. In various sidebars, the author makes use of the writings of several other informed writers like Bobby Fulcher, Nick Tosches & Kip Lornell. PRICE: $ 24.00
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BOOK: THE LIGHT CRUST DOUGHBOYS ARE ON THE AIR by John Mark Dempsey (Univ. North Texas Press, 2002) 294 pp. Hardbound. A well-written and interesting survey of this Western Swing band's career from 1932 to the present. Though considerable space is given to their more recent make-up and activity (1969 to the present), there is extensive coverage of their formative years and the involvement of those early members who shaped the history of Western Swing:. Bob Wills, Milton Brown, W. Lee O'Daniel, Knocky Parker, Marvin Montgomery, etc. As the title implies, there's heavy emphasis on their radio work for Burrus Mills, as well as their many recordings. With photos & discography, also comes with a CD.
PRICE: $ 25.00
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BOOK: BLUEGRASS COOKBOOK by Penny Parsons, Ken Beck & Jim Clark (John Blair Pub. 1997) 252 pp., softbound. Parsons and her co-authors have collected over 375 recipes from Bluegrass personalities in the fun filled book that also includes over 20 photos and Bluegrass trivia. Nicely produced. PRICE: $ 15.00
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BOOK: EARTH & SKY (Laurie Lewis Song Book) (Confluence Press, 2002) 120 pp. Softbound. Words and music to over 40 of Laurie's songs like THE MAPLE'S LAMENT, HILLS OF MY HOME, THE OAK AND THE LAUREL and TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND. With photos. PRICE: $ 20.00
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BOOK: RONNIE RENO "Portfolio" A nice 36-page picture & songbook, of the type not seen very much these days. There are lots of photos of Don Reno & Red Smiley over the years, plus a fairly good listing of their recordings, and words to about 20 of their songs. Ronnie Reno is seen in his roles with the Osborne Brothers and Merle Haggard as well as with his dad, Don. PRICE: $ 8.00
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BOOK: SINGING IN THE SADDLE by Douglas B. Green (Vanderbilt Univ. Press, 2002) 392 pp. Hardbound. Extensively researched book on the American Cowboy phenomenon of the 1930's and 40's, covering Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter, Sons of the Pioneers and dozens of other personalities from the 1920's through the mid 1950's. Covers their work on radio and in movies as well as their recording careers. Author Green is a member of the Riders in the Sky as well as a noted country music historian. With many photos and an extensive index. PRICE: $ 30.00
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BOOK: A HOT BED OF MUSICIANS by Paula Anderson-Green (Univ. of Tenn. Press, 2002) 252 pp. Softbound. A fascinating look at several old-time musicians from the Whitetop/New River Valley area of Virginia/North Carolina. Specifically the book focuses on Ola Belle Reed, Albert Hash, Uncle Dave Sturgill and Wayne Henderson, but there are wonderful appendices listing many other mountain musicians, the repertoires of the major figures, etc. A well-done book.
PRICE: $ 12.50
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BOOK: BLUEGRASS ODYSSEY by Carl Fleischhauer & Neil Rosenberg (Univ. Ill. Press, 2001) 196 pp. A great collection of photos of Bluegrass artists, bands, fans, & personalities, taken mostly in the 1970s by Fleishhauer, and accompanied by excellent if brief text by Rosenberg. Many wonderful shots of all the key figures in the music, in a well-printed hardbound edition. PRICE: $ 32.50
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BOOK: THE DEVIL'S BOX by Charles Wolfe (Vanderbilt Univ. Press, 1997) 2232 pp., softbound. Wonderful accounts of eleven old-time country fiddlers including ECK ROBERTSON, CLARK KESSINGER, BOB WILLS, G.B. GRAYSON, ARTHUR SMITH, and TOMMY JACKSON. PRICE: $ 17.50
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BOOK: COUNTRY MUSIC U.S.A. by Bill C. Malone (University of Texas Press, 1968) 562 pp. Revised and enlarged: a well-written book with photo section. This is the definitive reference work on the history of country music from its earliest commercial beginnings to the present. PRICE: $ 18.00
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BOOK: TRUE ADVENTURES WITH THE KING OF BLUEGRASS JIMMY MARTIN by Tom Piazza (Vanderbilt Univ. Press, 1999) 110 pp., hardbound. A short look at Martin, one of the giants of Bluegrass and one of its most enigmatic characters. Piazza pulls no punches in describing a man with great talent. In a short forward. Marty Stuart sums the book up beautifully as "a ride through the kingdoms of music, coon hunting, love, heartbreak, liquor, dead batteries, more liquor, two tone shoes, heaven, hell…all somewhere in the neighborhood of B-natural." PRICE: $ 17.00
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BOOK: CAN'T YOU HEAR ME CALLIN' The Life of Bill Monroe, By Richard D. Smith (Little Brown, 2000) 365 pp., hardbound. Many will have a hard time putting this book down. In a well-structured, basically chronological account of Monroe's life, Smith candidly tackles some of the subjects that were routinely avoided (in print) during Monroe's lifetime, out of respect for a larger-than-life personality. To his credit, Smith does not sensationalize the facts, but he does not shy away from the either. In some 35 pages of notes that are sometimes as interesting as the main narrative, Smith cites dozens of sources, including family members, musicians, and many of the women in Monroe's life. Things that were long exaggerated, downplayed or distorted by rumor are now (for the most part) put straight, or at least discussed. There is an ample discussion of Monroe's music itself, including stories about the origins of some of his songs & tunes. Obviously no one could include even a small fraction of all the stories that so many could tell. and an attempt to make this book perfect could have delayed it indefinitely. So hats off to the author for a sound, well-presented work on one of the most fascinating personalities of our lifetime. This is MUST READING for any Bluegrass Fan! PRICE: $ 25.00
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