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My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music's Black Past, Present, and Future
Alice Randall, award-winning professor, songwriter, and author presents “a celebration of all things country music” (Ken Burns) as she reflects on her search for the first family of Black country music.
Country music had brought Alice Randall and her activist mother together and even gave Randall a singular distinction in American music she is the first Black woman to cowrite a number one country hit, Trisha Yearwood’s “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl)”. Randall found inspiration and comfort in the sounds and history of the first family of Black country DeFord Bailey, Lil Hardin, Ray Charles, Charley Pride, and Herb Jeffries who, together, made up a community of Black Americans rising through hard times to create simple beauty, true joy, and sometimes profound eccentricity.
What emerges in My Black Country is “a delightful, inspirational story of persistence, resistance, and sheer love” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) of this most American of music genres and the radical joy in realizing the power of Black influence on American culture. As country music goes through a fresh renaissance today, with a new wave of Black artists enjoying success, My Black Country is the perfect gift for longtime country fans and a vibrant introduction to a new generation of listeners who previously were not invited to give the genre a chance.
Country music had brought Alice Randall and her activist mother together and even gave Randall a singular distinction in American music she is the first Black woman to cowrite a number one country hit, Trisha Yearwood’s “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl)”. Randall found inspiration and comfort in the sounds and history of the first family of Black country DeFord Bailey, Lil Hardin, Ray Charles, Charley Pride, and Herb Jeffries who, together, made up a community of Black Americans rising through hard times to create simple beauty, true joy, and sometimes profound eccentricity.
What emerges in My Black Country is “a delightful, inspirational story of persistence, resistance, and sheer love” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) of this most American of music genres and the radical joy in realizing the power of Black influence on American culture. As country music goes through a fresh renaissance today, with a new wave of Black artists enjoying success, My Black Country is the perfect gift for longtime country fans and a vibrant introduction to a new generation of listeners who previously were not invited to give the genre a chance.
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First published April 9, 2024
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About the author
Alice Randall
19 books170 followersAlice Randall (born Detroit, Michigan) is an American author and songwriter. Randall grew up in Washington, D.C.. She attended Harvard University, where she earned an honors degree in English and American literature, before moving to Nashville in 1983 to become a country songwriter. She currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee and is married to attorney David Ewing.
Randall is the first African American woman to write a number one country hit. Over 20 of her songs have been recorded, including several top ten and top forty records; her songs have been performed by Trisha Yearwood and Mark O'Connor.
Randall is also a novelist, whose first novel The Wind Done Gone is a reinterpretation and parody of Gone with the Wind. The Wind Done Gone is essentially the same story as Gone with the Wind, only told from the viewpoint of Scarlett O'Hara's half-sister Cynara, a mulatto slave on Scarlett's plantation. The estate of Margaret Mitchell sued Randall and her publishing company, Houghton Mifflin, on the grounds that The Wind Done Gone was too similar to Gone with the Wind, thus infringing its copyright. The lawsuit was eventually settled, allowing The Wind Done Gone to be published. The novel became a New York Times bestseller.
Randall's second novel, Pushkin and the Queen of Spades, was named as one of The Washington Post's "Best fiction of 2004."
Randall is the first African American woman to write a number one country hit. Over 20 of her songs have been recorded, including several top ten and top forty records; her songs have been performed by Trisha Yearwood and Mark O'Connor.
Randall is also a novelist, whose first novel The Wind Done Gone is a reinterpretation and parody of Gone with the Wind. The Wind Done Gone is essentially the same story as Gone with the Wind, only told from the viewpoint of Scarlett O'Hara's half-sister Cynara, a mulatto slave on Scarlett's plantation. The estate of Margaret Mitchell sued Randall and her publishing company, Houghton Mifflin, on the grounds that The Wind Done Gone was too similar to Gone with the Wind, thus infringing its copyright. The lawsuit was eventually settled, allowing The Wind Done Gone to be published. The novel became a New York Times bestseller.
Randall's second novel, Pushkin and the Queen of Spades, was named as one of The Washington Post's "Best fiction of 2004."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
April 8, 2024
This release could not have come at a better time! With Beyoncé's country era in full swing, My Black Country gave me such lovely knowledge about the history of Black people in country music. I'm excited to see how this book continues bringing awareness to the Black people that are pillars of country music. I really enjoyed Alice Randall's writing and am so glad I got to enjoy this book! Thank you so much to Atria/Black Privilege Publishing, Alice Randall and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
April 24, 2024
It took me a long time to finish this because, to be honest, I don’t have much of an interest in country music. Why would I pick up a book like this if I don’t? I was expecting something broader—similar to an anthology—and a bit more encompassing than what this turned out to be.
This was something more personal and specific; which is fine if you’re familiar with Alice Randall, or her work, but not so much if you’ve never heard of her or understand why she’d be important in the pantheon of “Black Country”.
If anything, the more I read, the more it became clear Randall felt cheated out of becoming someone of greater significance; she never quite got her due and perhaps feels a little bitter? Disappointed? Hard to say but the message that came across was, “what if I’d been allowed a true chance to shine? What could I have become”?
It’s a theme throughout the book, as she drops names only the truest of fans would recognize, and details the numerous chances she never got because someone didn’t take her vision seriously.
I will admit it was maddening to hear how easily she was bamboozzled out of her one big break; she missed out on a loft sum when an unscrupulous “friend” decided to take credit for for “XXX’s and OOO’s”—Randall’s biggest and most well-known hit.
That said, I walked away feeling a little less than sorry for her because the situation, as relayed, seemed avoidable; if anything, Randall came away looking more foolish than duped.
Aside from that, there’s a lot of unnecessary information? Like the train ride she took in order to write this book? I’m not sure it was necessary to know every detail of that journey; it certainly didn’t add anything to the story as a whole. It felt a bit like filler.
Even more, many of the encounters she speaks of—with more famous people like Quincy Jones, Charley Pride, and Aretha Franklin—felt more like someone name dropping than someone actually trying to make connections to whatever story she was attempting to tell.
There were numerous moments like that in this book, where a big name would be mentioned—Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Reba McIntyre, etc.—and Randall would make an attempt to show how she contributed, or was connected, in some way to the way those people made their way into the country ranks on a larger scale.
Kind of like a Six Degrees of Separation using herself as point one.
It made for a read that felt disjointed in places and uninteresting in others.
Overall, it was interesting to learn a few tidbits about well-known artists like Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Charlie Pride—and I know more about Linda Martell, DeFord Bailey, and Lil Harding—but, as a whole, I think you need a deeper I.Q. into country music to truly enjoy this book.
This was something more personal and specific; which is fine if you’re familiar with Alice Randall, or her work, but not so much if you’ve never heard of her or understand why she’d be important in the pantheon of “Black Country”.
If anything, the more I read, the more it became clear Randall felt cheated out of becoming someone of greater significance; she never quite got her due and perhaps feels a little bitter? Disappointed? Hard to say but the message that came across was, “what if I’d been allowed a true chance to shine? What could I have become”?
It’s a theme throughout the book, as she drops names only the truest of fans would recognize, and details the numerous chances she never got because someone didn’t take her vision seriously.
I will admit it was maddening to hear how easily she was bamboozzled out of her one big break; she missed out on a loft sum when an unscrupulous “friend” decided to take credit for for “XXX’s and OOO’s”—Randall’s biggest and most well-known hit.
That said, I walked away feeling a little less than sorry for her because the situation, as relayed, seemed avoidable; if anything, Randall came away looking more foolish than duped.
Aside from that, there’s a lot of unnecessary information? Like the train ride she took in order to write this book? I’m not sure it was necessary to know every detail of that journey; it certainly didn’t add anything to the story as a whole. It felt a bit like filler.
Even more, many of the encounters she speaks of—with more famous people like Quincy Jones, Charley Pride, and Aretha Franklin—felt more like someone name dropping than someone actually trying to make connections to whatever story she was attempting to tell.
There were numerous moments like that in this book, where a big name would be mentioned—Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Reba McIntyre, etc.—and Randall would make an attempt to show how she contributed, or was connected, in some way to the way those people made their way into the country ranks on a larger scale.
Kind of like a Six Degrees of Separation using herself as point one.
It made for a read that felt disjointed in places and uninteresting in others.
Overall, it was interesting to learn a few tidbits about well-known artists like Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Charlie Pride—and I know more about Linda Martell, DeFord Bailey, and Lil Harding—but, as a whole, I think you need a deeper I.Q. into country music to truly enjoy this book.
August 15, 2024
“If you strain can you catch the trace of the Black folk whitewashed out of the rural South, the rural West, out of rural America on Country radio and records but somehow still present in Country songs?”
I learned a lot from this memoir and I really enjoyed it. As a country music fan, I love hearing perspectives of musicians and songwriters that don’t fit the stereotypical mold of the straight, white, male country music star. This book provides background on country music history, and expands on the ways Black artists have always been the origin and heart of country music.
I also appreciated reading about Alice Randall’s life, especially the stories behind some of her songs and her collaborative process of creating the companion album to this memoir.
I hope this book reaches wide audiences of music lovers and helps bring visibility to Black Country artists, history, and influence.
I learned a lot from this memoir and I really enjoyed it. As a country music fan, I love hearing perspectives of musicians and songwriters that don’t fit the stereotypical mold of the straight, white, male country music star. This book provides background on country music history, and expands on the ways Black artists have always been the origin and heart of country music.
I also appreciated reading about Alice Randall’s life, especially the stories behind some of her songs and her collaborative process of creating the companion album to this memoir.
I hope this book reaches wide audiences of music lovers and helps bring visibility to Black Country artists, history, and influence.
April 9, 2024
thank you to netgalley and atria books for this copy to review.
half memoir half history lesson this book took me on a journey through the author’s life and through the history of people who were erased from history books and museums. i was unable to put this down my whole read. i practically read this in one sitting. there was no point that dragged down the pacing. each discovery and reveal of the way black people have had their credit and livelihood snatched away from them kept me thirsting for more history and knowledge. the author frames these lessons with her own story and how country music, specifically black country music, shaped her life every step of the way. this was an enjoyable and educating read.
half memoir half history lesson this book took me on a journey through the author’s life and through the history of people who were erased from history books and museums. i was unable to put this down my whole read. i practically read this in one sitting. there was no point that dragged down the pacing. each discovery and reveal of the way black people have had their credit and livelihood snatched away from them kept me thirsting for more history and knowledge. the author frames these lessons with her own story and how country music, specifically black country music, shaped her life every step of the way. this was an enjoyable and educating read.
May 26, 2024
This was a ton more memoir than I expected or desired, but definitely shows how country music has been whitewashed from the get-go. Of course, the people who need to read this, won’t.
Cons: Due to Randall’s writing style, I spent a lot of time confused about when and where the narrative was taking place.
Pros: Very informative about Country’s history; names names (and even home addresses); introduced me to contemporary artists I hadn’t heard of, but will check out.
Cons: Due to Randall’s writing style, I spent a lot of time confused about when and where the narrative was taking place.
Pros: Very informative about Country’s history; names names (and even home addresses); introduced me to contemporary artists I hadn’t heard of, but will check out.
November 6, 2024
Part memoir, part oral history, part Nashville history, part country music history. This book weaves them all together, through many threads and circles and chapters and then keeps going, spinning out into delicious rhythm and feeling, and finally brings it all back home again. I bought the book after seeing Alice Randall at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville on October 26, 2024, and she was captivating and inspiring. Country music isn’t something I know a lot about, but I always want to learn more about things so here we are. It’s vivid and filled to the brim with people I’ve never heard of, some people I have, lots of places I’ve been to and a lot of places I haven’t.
Idk if spoiler alerts should be a thing here, but there is a lot of white-washing of country music that I had no idea happened and Randall tries to uncover some of those lost artists and she’s doing a fantastic job of it, of bringing the “lost” musicians and artists back out into the mainstream where they can get the recognition that they deserve.
If you want to learn a little about Nashville, a lot about country music, and a little more about how they intersect in one very interesting woman’s life, this is the book for you.
My surprise hit of 2024. It’ll be hard to top this one.
Idk if spoiler alerts should be a thing here, but there is a lot of white-washing of country music that I had no idea happened and Randall tries to uncover some of those lost artists and she’s doing a fantastic job of it, of bringing the “lost” musicians and artists back out into the mainstream where they can get the recognition that they deserve.
If you want to learn a little about Nashville, a lot about country music, and a little more about how they intersect in one very interesting woman’s life, this is the book for you.
My surprise hit of 2024. It’ll be hard to top this one.
August 3, 2024
Wonderful book that combines history, memoir, and travelogue with style, flair, and strong opinions. I enjoy Alice Randall as a novelist who always has history in her plots and whose books are written creatively. My Black Country shares the Black influence on and presence in country music from its beginnings; the attempted white-washing of the country music canon; the Black country singers who couldn't be denied (Charley Price); and known and lesser known singers in the canon. She also shares information about Black and Brown cowboys and her experience as a song-writer in Nashville. I'm not doing this book justice - READ.
October 3, 2024
Rounding 4.5 stars up. Not a perfect 5-star rating simply because I listened on audiobook which, probably contrary to expectations, made the reading experience less enjoyable. It was difficult to keep track of all the names at times without seeing them in print and I found the author's speaking cadence a bit annoying at times. However, her tearful reading of the section about Aretha Franklin at the Ryman was powerful.
As a white man, this was an uncomfortable read, but one I'm glad I stuck with. I loved learning new artists to check out to expand my country go to's. There is also a companion album on Spotify with the Alice Randall songbook that is excellent.
As a white man, this was an uncomfortable read, but one I'm glad I stuck with. I loved learning new artists to check out to expand my country go to's. There is also a companion album on Spotify with the Alice Randall songbook that is excellent.
March 13, 2024
This book brought to light so many interesting tidbits of country music’s history. Specifically its Black roots and Black influences over time. From the start of country to country music today, from well known to little known artists, including songwriters and singers both male and female this book provides plenty of ah-ha moments. If you enjoy country music but don’t know its full history….this is a must read book.
April 11, 2024
Thanks to the publisher, via Edelweiss, for an advance copy for honest review.
This book is densely packed with history, knowledge, anecdote, and documentation. At a time when the real, Black history of country music is being discussed and brought to the forefront of the conversation, this book is going to be an essential part of the conversation.
This book is densely packed with history, knowledge, anecdote, and documentation. At a time when the real, Black history of country music is being discussed and brought to the forefront of the conversation, this book is going to be an essential part of the conversation.
June 13, 2024
Mind-blowing to behold the erasure of Black artists from the received history of country music. I thought I was pretty well informed about that topic; turns out, I wasn’t. There’s a CD of Randall’s songs, performed by Black country artists, bearing the same name that’s a perfect complement to this book.
April 14, 2024
A very nice historical perspecitive, with a touch of today included. Listening to the audiobook version was very poetic.
July 8, 2024
A prominent Black academic, novelist and songwriter combines personal memories with a history of Black Country artists from DeFord Bailey to Rhiannon Giddens and beyond.
June 5, 2025
Pros:
-loved finding out so much info about the history of black country music
-made me appreciate Beyonce and the cowboy Carter album even more
Cons:
-I was bored with the writing style. I thought there were many connections left out.
While I don’t enjoy country music myself nor do I know any history behind it, it was great to read from a different perspective.
-loved finding out so much info about the history of black country music
-made me appreciate Beyonce and the cowboy Carter album even more
Cons:
-I was bored with the writing style. I thought there were many connections left out.
While I don’t enjoy country music myself nor do I know any history behind it, it was great to read from a different perspective.
September 5, 2024
I listened to the audiobook. 4.25 - 4.5 rounding up.
This book is part memoir and part history lesson. While listening to it, I went on numerous deep dives on Google, YouTube, and Spotify to discover black country artists. This memoir opened my eyes and heart a little wider.
I did start over about an hour and a half in to focus and follow the format, which alternates between black country history and memoir.
This book is part memoir and part history lesson. While listening to it, I went on numerous deep dives on Google, YouTube, and Spotify to discover black country artists. This memoir opened my eyes and heart a little wider.
I did start over about an hour and a half in to focus and follow the format, which alternates between black country history and memoir.
February 7, 2026
I’ve had this on my TBR for over a year. The history of country music has been something I’ve wanted to know more about since listening to the 1619 podcast (highly recommend). I didn’t read the description before starting, so I didn’t realize that this is more memoir than history book, but it was a pleasure to learn about the life of a black female country music writer. Alice Randall has seen some shit! The music that she’s seen live and the people she’s met left me awestruck. Learning about the background of songwriting was also very interesting.
The writing was very beautiful but at times a bit disjointed or hard to follow. Alice’s narration was lovely, she says in the epilogue that she mispronounced some things but I never caught any.
There were a lot of names I’ve never heard that I now feel the need to research. Particularly the early music names, which are what I’d like the most to hear more about.
The writing was very beautiful but at times a bit disjointed or hard to follow. Alice’s narration was lovely, she says in the epilogue that she mispronounced some things but I never caught any.
There were a lot of names I’ve never heard that I now feel the need to research. Particularly the early music names, which are what I’d like the most to hear more about.
May 17, 2025
For anyone with shit to say about Cowboy Carter, may I present…. THIS. I feel like I know the author as a close friend after having read (or more specifically listened to her read) this — which I consider a major benchmark of success for memoir. At times I wanted slightly more connective tissue between the history lessons and the lived experiences, but all in all I found that this walked the line between educational and entertaining remarkably well. I also enjoyed listening to the accompanying musical album.
February 15, 2025
Randall brings the receipts on how the roots of country are from the Black community. I’m already familiar with artists like Allison Russell and Rhiannon Giddens, and I learned a lot about DeFord Bailey and Lil Hardin. Anyone arguing that Beyoncé shouldn’t have won an award for her country album needs to read this book, after they listen to the album, of course! As an added bonus, an album of contemporary black female singers perform some of Alice’s songs on an album “My Black Country:The Songs of Alice Randall.” Darn good listening for any race.
May 16, 2024
Definitely more autobiography than… I don’t know… historical nonfiction?
It’s that too, but much more from the author’s perspective.
Fine… but not what I expected.
It’s that too, but much more from the author’s perspective.
Fine… but not what I expected.
March 2, 2024
I considered myself lucky that I won a copy of My Black Country in a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoy country music and travel to Nashville from time to time. I was a fan of Charlie Pride growing up and love the music of Ray Charles. With that as my base, I hoped to learn a whole lot more about the contributions of black artists to the industry over the years. I was not disappointed.
This was an enjoyable, informative book. I repeatedly found myself having to put it down to jot notes about specific singers and songs that I want to look up afterwards. The author's research was impeccable, and her experiences and first-hand stories were engaging (sometimes exciting, sometimes sad). I enjoyed learning about historical Nashville and will try to remember what I read next time I travel there.
I found the author’s passion about this project to be contagious and hope she posts interviews on YouTube following the book release. Having said that, there was a short section in which I lost a little interest in the second half of the book when she strayed from Nashville.
I look forward to hearing the accompanying album which iTunes shows will be released in April.
Thanks to Atria Books for the ARC. The above opinions are my own.
This was an enjoyable, informative book. I repeatedly found myself having to put it down to jot notes about specific singers and songs that I want to look up afterwards. The author's research was impeccable, and her experiences and first-hand stories were engaging (sometimes exciting, sometimes sad). I enjoyed learning about historical Nashville and will try to remember what I read next time I travel there.
I found the author’s passion about this project to be contagious and hope she posts interviews on YouTube following the book release. Having said that, there was a short section in which I lost a little interest in the second half of the book when she strayed from Nashville.
I look forward to hearing the accompanying album which iTunes shows will be released in April.
Thanks to Atria Books for the ARC. The above opinions are my own.
April 2, 2025
I liked this book a lot less than I expected. It does make some good points about racism in the music industry, and there are some nice turns of phrase and powerful descriptions.
However, I didn't get on with the overall tone. Randall comes across as quite mean and cutting, not just when she's discussing her experiences with white people - which would be understandable - but when talking about Black people she loves. It's hardly in line with the "nurture-centered capitalism" she espouses (but the less said about that, the better).
The passage where she sneers at her travelling companions for smelling of the sleeper train shampoo is a memorable example. In another passage, she abandons a chicken she is being paid to care for backstage, having taken the job for the connections she hopes to garner.
There is a lot of namedropping in the book, in one case extending over three pages of little else. There are also some uncomfortably explicit sex scenes that feel wildly out of place in a memoir that is attempting to chart the history of an under-represented genre.
Finally, the chronology is at times difficult to follow, and I spotted some mistakes that should have been caught by the publisher. At one point Ewan MacColl is referred to as Irish (he was born in Northwest England to Scottish parents, and it was an important part of his musical philosophy that the songs he sang should reflect that).
I would have dnf'd this book if I hadn't been reading it for one of the more difficult prompts on a book challenge. I don't think I'll be reading any more of Randall's work.
However, I didn't get on with the overall tone. Randall comes across as quite mean and cutting, not just when she's discussing her experiences with white people - which would be understandable - but when talking about Black people she loves. It's hardly in line with the "nurture-centered capitalism" she espouses (but the less said about that, the better).
The passage where she sneers at her travelling companions for smelling of the sleeper train shampoo is a memorable example. In another passage, she abandons a chicken she is being paid to care for backstage, having taken the job for the connections she hopes to garner.
There is a lot of namedropping in the book, in one case extending over three pages of little else. There are also some uncomfortably explicit sex scenes that feel wildly out of place in a memoir that is attempting to chart the history of an under-represented genre.
Finally, the chronology is at times difficult to follow, and I spotted some mistakes that should have been caught by the publisher. At one point Ewan MacColl is referred to as Irish (he was born in Northwest England to Scottish parents, and it was an important part of his musical philosophy that the songs he sang should reflect that).
I would have dnf'd this book if I hadn't been reading it for one of the more difficult prompts on a book challenge. I don't think I'll be reading any more of Randall's work.
June 12, 2024
This is good. At times I wished it was more of an anthology than a memoir, but I appreciated the look back at names I didn't know and was less familiar with. I was hopeful for insight and information on Rissi Palmer, and was happy she was featured in the book. Randall's writing style made for some long or strange narratives at times, but I still enjoyed this overall.
I received my ARC as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
I received my ARC as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
November 24, 2024
Spectacular
May 8, 2025
4/5
Okay, it normally wouldn’t take me this long to get through a book like this, but I felt a little bait and switched by the bookstore where I discovered this. As a mood reader I literally only want to read what I’m in the mood for. If I’m not in the mood, I will struggle. And that’s what happened here. I found this in the history section under music. I wanted something strictly history soooo bad because I just wanted to learn. But this ended up being more memoir than history. It had sprinkles of history, but more so to provide context. Maybe if I read the synopsis it would’ve been clear, but I’m not always a synopsis reader. I just love going into things blind!!! Also the subtitle was a little misleading. It really made me believe this was strictly history. So with that, I docked it a star.
But overall, a great read! More often than not, memoirs get a 5 star rating from me, but again, my mood reader self struggled hard. As country music lover, I really enjoyed learning bits about the roots of country music and hearing her experience in the industry.
Okay, it normally wouldn’t take me this long to get through a book like this, but I felt a little bait and switched by the bookstore where I discovered this. As a mood reader I literally only want to read what I’m in the mood for. If I’m not in the mood, I will struggle. And that’s what happened here. I found this in the history section under music. I wanted something strictly history soooo bad because I just wanted to learn. But this ended up being more memoir than history. It had sprinkles of history, but more so to provide context. Maybe if I read the synopsis it would’ve been clear, but I’m not always a synopsis reader. I just love going into things blind!!! Also the subtitle was a little misleading. It really made me believe this was strictly history. So with that, I docked it a star.
But overall, a great read! More often than not, memoirs get a 5 star rating from me, but again, my mood reader self struggled hard. As country music lover, I really enjoyed learning bits about the roots of country music and hearing her experience in the industry.
December 5, 2024
This a great documenting work. Listening to Alice read out loud her own writing is very powerful. Her breaking to tears while reading the passage where the “Confederate Gallery” sign was covered to make room for Aretha Franklin’s performance at the Ryman Hall is very moving.
There are extensive references, which is wonderful but also makes it hard to move along with the reading. I stopped at every new name to search and listen to songs and any video that happened to be documented on YouTube. Truly amazing, but a hard task combined with an autobiography and mentions and name droppings that go back and forth in time throughout the book. It made it hard to follow. All in all, it’s still well worth it as it pays homage to people who really deserve to be known and have their story told in the history of country music in the USA.
There are extensive references, which is wonderful but also makes it hard to move along with the reading. I stopped at every new name to search and listen to songs and any video that happened to be documented on YouTube. Truly amazing, but a hard task combined with an autobiography and mentions and name droppings that go back and forth in time throughout the book. It made it hard to follow. All in all, it’s still well worth it as it pays homage to people who really deserve to be known and have their story told in the history of country music in the USA.
October 24, 2024
An important read exploring Black history and Black country music. A strong Black woman’s memoir, truly lifting up all the women around her and giving due credit to the men as well. Honest and genuine, Randall’s writing is full of passion and love.
I found it very interesting learning about the music publishing industry and how non-singer songwriters are employed and how they collaborate with music producers and both singers and other songwriters. So much collaborating and sharing ideas with other writers. The music industry is sooo complex and has so many layers—it’s fascinating and exciting to learn about.
I found it very interesting learning about the music publishing industry and how non-singer songwriters are employed and how they collaborate with music producers and both singers and other songwriters. So much collaborating and sharing ideas with other writers. The music industry is sooo complex and has so many layers—it’s fascinating and exciting to learn about.
April 13, 2024
A little esoteric, but interesting nonetheless.
May 28, 2024
Definitely a lot of names that I wasn't familiar with, but I'm looking forward to diving into those artists who helped cultivate what country is today
July 26, 2025
thoughtful history of the origins of country music and it’s black forefathers and mothers. I feel like the author intersected with just about everyone. Loved the part about Aretha Franklin!!
April 26, 2025
This was just seriously not my jam, which was disappointing. I fully acknowledge that at least a good part of this is a "me" thing. The emphasis on the "My" part, and I was in it for the "Black Country" part, and it's just not that. It's a memoir, and roughly 90% of the time, I am just not into memoirs. With that said, I do think there are some big strikes against this, even as a memoir. It very much bears the stamp of being assembled largely from previously written pieces. It is very repetitive and disjointed (and, I think, pretty badly edited). It's not just that the story has switchbacks in it (life stories certainly do in all cases, and certainly Randall is stitching together a family tree, so that's to be expected)—there are numerous instances where a statement will be repeated, nearly verbatim, within a page of its first iteration in a way that reads as lack of editorial attention, rather than a deliberate rhetorical move.
I also just find that this has a weird "buckle-up Twitter" vibe to it. I am surely not giving credit to the person who originated this phrase, but back when Twitter had any utility at all, there was a rash of people "Telling it like it is" about something that anyone with any knowledge whatsoever about a particular social/cultural/historical context would never consider remarkable in the slightest. (The example I remember, extremely vaguely, from this person I am not giving credit was along the lines of the scandalous truth that Charlotte Brontë reveals herself to be a dirty subscriber to the pseudoscience of phrenology! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Well, yes. Because very cursory review of the time period reveals that phrenology was hot . . .)
I really don't know very much about the history of country music. I LIKE (lots of) country music (particularly "classic country," whatever that is), but I admit this is an area where I am largely ignorant. I also FULLY acknowledge that country went through a particularly brutal whitewashing (as nearly every genre of music has in the recorded/broadcast music era). But . . . I have more than passing familiarity with everyone in her First Family. I know who they all are. I know about the ways they have been erased and downplayed (not all the details, certainly, but their stories are familiar). So the "can you believe it?!?" tone about the things I came to the book hoping to deepen my knowledge about was pretty at odds with the, "I suppose I didn't know that specific thing, but . . ." content.
Anyway. If you're into memoir, maybe you'll like this more than I did, but I found it a largely disappointing slog.
I also just find that this has a weird "buckle-up Twitter" vibe to it. I am surely not giving credit to the person who originated this phrase, but back when Twitter had any utility at all, there was a rash of people "Telling it like it is" about something that anyone with any knowledge whatsoever about a particular social/cultural/historical context would never consider remarkable in the slightest. (The example I remember, extremely vaguely, from this person I am not giving credit was along the lines of the scandalous truth that Charlotte Brontë reveals herself to be a dirty subscriber to the pseudoscience of phrenology! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Well, yes. Because very cursory review of the time period reveals that phrenology was hot . . .)
I really don't know very much about the history of country music. I LIKE (lots of) country music (particularly "classic country," whatever that is), but I admit this is an area where I am largely ignorant. I also FULLY acknowledge that country went through a particularly brutal whitewashing (as nearly every genre of music has in the recorded/broadcast music era). But . . . I have more than passing familiarity with everyone in her First Family. I know who they all are. I know about the ways they have been erased and downplayed (not all the details, certainly, but their stories are familiar). So the "can you believe it?!?" tone about the things I came to the book hoping to deepen my knowledge about was pretty at odds with the, "I suppose I didn't know that specific thing, but . . ." content.
Anyway. If you're into memoir, maybe you'll like this more than I did, but I found it a largely disappointing slog.
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