50 Years Down a Country Road - Softcover

Emery, Ralph; Cox, Patsi Bale

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0060937033 ISBN 13: 9780060937034

Publisher: It Books, 2001

Synopsis

For the past half century, Ralph Emery's incredibly popular radio and television programs have allowed millions to tune into the newest hits and savor their old favorites. Now Ralph combines his unique perspective with an encyclopedic wealth of country lore as he examines the changing face of the music he loves. From Hank Williams, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, and Johnny Cash to Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, and the Dixie Chicks, he chronicles the lives and careers of the stars, many of them his close friends. He shows how country music has changed over the years, but also reveals how its eternal themes and timeless melodies have kept this quintessentially American genre alive and well for fans of all ages.

About this title

About the Author:

Ralph Emery began interviewing country music stars at Nashville's powerhouse radio station WSM, winning Country Disc Jockey of the Year six times. He was the host and producer of The Ralph Emery Show and hosted Nashville Now for ten years. He is the author of the number one New York Times bestseller Memories, as well as More Memories and The View from Nashville. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

A former magazine editor, Patsi Bale Cox collaborated on Nickel Dreams, the autobiography of Tanya Tucker, and The View from Nashvilled with Ralph Emery, among other publications. She serves on the Grammy nominating committee in the liner note category. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

From Booklist:

Disk-jockey-wise, Emery is the Wolfman Jack of country music. His fourth book, dedicated "to Eddy Arnold, country music's first superstar," tells the history of country music by focusing on its creators--Hank Williams, songwriter-publisher Fred Rose, crossover superstar Marty Robbins, king and queen of country George Jones and Tammy Wynette. In "The 'Heartbreak Hotel' Factor," Emery explains how the Elvis Presley phenomenon benefited country and why the King deserved induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Emery also limns more recent performers like Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, and the Dixie Chicks, who are a much less interesting group in the hands of lesser chroniclers. His profiling of stylistic throwbacks Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs, and George Strait gives hope to fans of country that doesn't sound like pop schlock with steel guitars, and the chapter on Roger Miller is especially wry and warm. Although doubtless doomed to a country music ghetto in some collections, this excellent pop-music history might be profitably read by any American-music fan. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: It Books
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0060937033
• ISBN 13: 9780060937034
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432