This major gift reference book celebrates Country music's enduring world-wide appeal, taking the reader on a journey from its roots to the present day. Exploring every style from Hillbilly and Bluegrass to Nashville and Country Rock, it features all the key artists from Jimmie Rodgers to Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, with illuminating cross-referencing along the way.

Author Biography

'Cowboy' Jack Clement is a legendary record producer, singer and songwriter, and 1973 entrant to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. At Sun Records he worked with future stars such as Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash, and discovered Jerry Lee Lewis. He wrote many successful songs for a stellar list of musicians including Ray Charles, Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton. Bob Allen is a longtime country music journalist, historian and critic. He is former Nashville editor and contributor to the popular Country Music Magazine. His writings have appeared in Esquire, Rolling Stone and numerous books, and he is the author of The Life And Times Of A Honky-Tonk Legend, the (unauthorized) biography of George Jones. Tony Byworth has long been involved in country music. He edited Country Music People, was a contributing editor for Billboard, Music Week and The Stage, provided columns for pop music publications and has worked with many top US artists. The author of several books, numerous sleeve notes and album compilations, he has received many awards, including the CMA's prestigious Wesley Rose (Foreign Media Achievement) Award. Contributing authors: Bob Allen, Tony Byworth, Kevin Coffey, Geoffrey Himes, Maurice Hope, Howard Mandel, Tony Russell, John Tobler and Ian Wallis.