The Bluegrass Reader

by Thomas Goldsmith (Editor)

In The Bluegrass Reader, Thomas Goldsmith joins his insights as a journalist with a lifetime of experience in bluegrass to capture the full story of this beloved American music. Inspired by the question “What articles about bluegrass would you want to have with you on a desert island?” he assembled a delicious, fun-to-read collection that brings together a wide range of the very best in bluegrass writing. Goldsmith’s substantial introduction describes and traces the development of the music from its origins in Anglo-American folk tradition, overlaid with African American influences, to the breakout popularity of Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, and the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. He introduces each selection offering a wealth of additional information, making The Bluegrass Reader both enjoyable and invaluable for new fans of the music as well as for its lifetime devotees.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

353 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2004

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good but not outstanding. The book is a gathering of magazine articles and interviews. Some of them are fluff, others are outstanding. It's a mixed bag.