Tennessee Music: Its People and Places - Softcover

Zimmerman, Peter Coats

9780879305338: Tennessee Music: Its People and Places

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0879305339 ISBN 13: 9780879305338

Publisher: Backbeat Books, 1998

This intriguing book examines how Tennessee�s diverse music genres - including country, blues, gospel, bluegrass, soul and new acoustic - have evolved and influenced one another across the state and over the years. It provides practical site information for visitors exploring this rich musical territory, plus compelling tales of the men and women at the heart of Tennessee�s unique musical legacy.

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From Booklist:

Home of the blues, rock, and country, the South is the nursery of American pop music, and Tennessee has been especially fertile ground for it. Chet Atkins, Roy Acuff, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and, of course, Elvis Presley all started there, and so did a multitude of lesser lights, such as Fiddlin' Arthur Smith--" the most famous long-bow fiddler," Zimmerman says--and Doyle Lawson, purveyor of "a hybrid of a hybrid: bluegrass-gospel." Zimmerman emphasizes locale and style more than individual artists, and coverage of single musicians, though satisfying enough, is fleeting. Zimmerman proceeds regionally, dividing the state into Nashville, Memphis, and East, West, and Middle Tennessee areas, and by genre (old-time, blues and roots, gospel, bluegrass, country, soul, and new acoustic). He augments his own writing with a fine selection of essays and excerpts by other hands, including veteran rock scribe Nick Tosches (on Jerry Lee Lewis) and Davy Crockett (on Davy Crockett!). Every state celebrates its musical heritage, but Zimmerman makes it plain that Tennessee has greater reason to celebrate than most. Mike Tribby

Review:

"A valuable, informative companion for any traveler through that state, or indeed for anyone with a hankering for bluegrass, gospel, soul, country, blues, or new acoustic music. Based on personal interviews and ardent legwork, enlivened with bright critical commentary, this well-illustrated guidebook looks at a gamut of artists." -- America West, December 1998

"If you're a fan of country music, you'll want to read Peter Coats Zimmerman's great new book!" -- CountryNow website, September 1998

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