Bluegrass: From the lonesome wail of a mountain love song to the hammering drive of the Scuggs-style banjo, the story of an American musical tradition

by Bob Artis

Copyright 1975, hardcover with dustjacket, ex-library, 182 pages includes appendix and index, with 8 pages b/w photos. "Classical bluegraass music grasps the feelings of country people through death, lost lovers, loneesome mountains and cabin homes. The roots of traditional ballads and folk dances of Europe to America are traced through the careers of Bill Monroe, Stanley Brothers, Flatt and Scruggs, Ron Reno and red Smiley, Jimmy martin, The Osborne Brothers and others." Library cardholder/checkout sheet and stamps/notations inside. Dustjacket is enclosed in mylar overlay taped to cover. Binding is secure.

182 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Lee Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the first attempt by any author to write the history of, what was at that time only a thirty year old genre of music; Bluegrass. The writer is a bluegrass musician himself but he manages to keep his prejudices and preferences out of his story telling. The result is a nice (although dated in 2021) overview of the origins of the music and the principal artists who shaped it.
Artis devotes a chapter to each major bluegrass act from the late 1940’s through the 1960’s. There is also a great chapter about the music being produced by the younger generation and how it compares to that of the old masters. I particularly enjoyed a chapter about the experience of attending a Bluegrass Festival which is something every fan of the music should do at least once. Overall the book provides a very good background of where bluegrass came from and the people who created it.