Truth Is Stranger Than Publicity

by Alton Delmore

A rare and revealing first-person account of the early country music industry from the perspective of a renowned songwriter and performer. First published in 1977, Truth Is Stranger Than Publicity brings to life the world of the early Grand Ole Opry and the struggles of country music's first generation of professional musicians. Alton Delmore's candor and the depth of detail in his narrative make Truth Is Stranger Than Publicity more than just a resource for historians; the book is also an engrossing tale of struggle and perseverance.

Distributed for the Country Music Foundation Press

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History, Biography

350 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 1995

Reviews

[Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible insight into the early days of the country music business in America. Characters like Uncle Dave Macon come to life in Delmore's first-hand accounts of the early days of the Opry and of life on the road as a traveling performer in the 1930s and 1940s.

[Garrett Cash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I discovered The Delmore Brothers's incredible music on Pandora Radio I've been wanting to read Alton's seminal autobiography. It did not disappoint. Indispensable for country/music fans, historians, and scholars. Not only is it insightful and informative, but Alton's voice is very personal and appealing. As it has been pointed out, this is our only work from someone who was a star in the pre-World War II country music era that wrote about his own life. It is vitally important and entertaining.