Pilgrims: Sinners, Saints, and Prophets

by Marty Stuart

Marty Stuart, one of the most popular country artists, portrays well-known and not-so-well-known pilgrims through spectacular photographs and well-written words. Marty portrays in the book "a life that ain't easy, but one that I understand."

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Photography

200 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Marty Stuart is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music. Stuart has also been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1992. He is married to country music legend Connie Smith.

Reviews

[Garrett Cash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had the chance to read many books on the subject of country music in my time, and I would say this is a favorite of all the ones I've read so far. Marty Stuart himself is a Country Music Hall of Fame member, one of the greatest to ever do it. When this book came out in the late 90's he had just revitalized his artistic vision and commitment to his roots with The Pilgrim album. This book is clearly supposed to tie in with the greater Pilgrim era, and it is a window into the twilight years of so many great country stars who have gone on since this was published.

Marty has an overwhelming amount of passion for the subject, and his camera lens exudes the love he has for his subjects. He captures titans both as icons and humans. He is just as thrilled as you would be to see George Jones play with Keith Richards, or to see Johnny Cash and Ray Charles cutting up together.

Marty is a superb storyteller whether through his pen or lens, and if you're a fan of American music I can't imagine this book not being a thrilling read.

[King Haddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not someone who delves deep into photography; I enjoy it on occasion, either casually or in a professional arts setting. I understand the artistic principles behind composition, etc. but don't tend to be engrossed by it. This book, however, gripped me deeply. Over the least few years I've been taken in by the country music world, and Stuart's photography and written words present every human being here as an invaluable, unique soul—no judgment given, only love.

Everyone's beauty is captured in an intimacy and familiarity I feel when I sneak candid photos of my friends during hangouts, and in the book, Stuart himself described his work as a "I'm the only one at the family reunion who thought to bring a camera" style. That's not to say it feels amateur... not in the least... the photography is rather polished with a good eye for beauty, especially as the decades roll on. Stuart's book covers photos from his childhood onward, including the time he had in Lester Flatt's band in the 1970s and Johnny Cash's band in the 1980s. He combines these images with stories of how everyone he's come across impacted his life.

For fans well-acquainted with the country music world, I'd call this a treasure.

The majority of the book is in black and white photography, with the material from the earliest segments of Marty's life being in color. It would take me too long to provide a comprehensive list of every subject photographed, but artists in this book include: Roy Acuff, Chet Atkins, Kenny Baker, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Ray Charles, Skeeter Davis, Little Jimmie Dickens, Steve Earle, Lester Flatt, Josh Graves, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, John Lee Hooker, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, B. B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Loretta Lynn, Jimmy Martin, Bill Monroe, Willie Nelson, Sonny Osborne, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Little Richard, Earl Scruggs, Shel Silverstein, Connie Smith, Ralph Stanley, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, Kitty Wells, and Dwight Yoakam. Some of these people are in one photo; many others are in multiple photos. Overall I'd say it's a fairly even mix of the older generations and giants of country and bluegrass, combined with the then-contemporary (book published in 1999) country music stars, combined with other people Marty came upon along the way.

[Mark Goddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only has Marty Stuart become a legend in his own right. His stories & photo's have given the reader a front row seat to some of the greatest American musicians of all time.