Country Music Originals

Tony Russell is a music historian who has written on country music, blues, jazz, and other forms of popular music in a wide variety of publications and has researched,written, and presented many musical programs for BBC Radio. He lives in London.

• Acknowledgments Introduction Notes on Playlists Eck Robertson Fiddlin' John Carson Henry Whitter Ernest V. Stoneman Uncle Dave Macon Vernon Dalhart Fiddlin' Powers Charlie Poole Kelly Harrell DaCosta Woltz Uncle Jimmy Thompson Dr Humphrey Bate Sam McGee Gid Tanner Riley Puckett Clayton McMichen Lowe Stokes Earl Johnson John Dilleshaw Georgia Yellow Hammers South Georgia Highballers Cofer Brothers Dock Boggs Frank Hutchison Darby & Tarlton The Carter Family Jimmie Rodgers Bridge: The Great Divide Allen Brothers Fleming & Townsend Chris Bouchillon Ed Haley Clark Kessinger Blind Alfred Reed Roy Harvey Walter Smith Asa Martin Dick Burnett John D. Foster Emry Arthur Alfred G. Karnes Buell Kazee Raymond Render G. B. Grayson Clarence Ashley Carolina Tar Heels Carolina Twins Red Fox Chasers Bascom Lamar Lunsford Leake County Revelers Narmour & Smith Hoyt Ming Dr Smith's Champion Hoss Hair Pullers Fiddlin' Bob Larkan Golden Melody Boys Walter Coon Jules V. Allen Powder River Jack Lee Cartwright Brothers, Harry "Mac" McClintock Goebel Reeves John I. White Bernard "Slim" Smith Carson Robison Frank Luther Otto Gray & His Oklahoma Cowboys Bridge: Country Music In Transition Gene Autry Jimmie Davis Cliff Carlisle Bill Cox Mac & Bob Bradley Kincaid The Girls of the Golden West Wilf Carter Hank Snow Bridge: The Radio Years Lulu Belle & Scotty Patsy Montana Lily May Ledford J. E. Mainer Dixon Brothers Callahan Brothers Claude Casey Snuffy Jenkins Roy Acuff, "Ramblin' Red" Lowery Delmore Brothers Lonnie Glosson Grandpa Jones Carl Swanson Bridge: Western Swing & Honkytonk Milton Brown Bob Wills Light Crust Doughboys Adolph Hofner Cliff Bruner Hank Penny Bob Skyles Swift Jewel Cowboys Johnnie Lee Wills Ted Daffan Hoyle Nix Rex Griffin Buddy Jones Al Dexter Floyd Tillman Ernest Tubb Johnny Bond Red River Dave McEnery Leo Soileau Harry Choates Molly O'Day Rose Maddox Bibliography Index of Names Index of Songs

"Published as a hardback on excellent quality paper and superbly illustrated, CMO is a treasure chest of info and images. For fans of country music this is an essential purchase."- CharlieGillett.com"Tony Russell has been on of the most insightful and knowledgeable writers on pre-World-War-II country music for some forty years.... This is a wonderful addition to the country music bibliography, as well as just being a lot of fun to read."--Elijah Wald, Sing Out!"Russell brings performers like Blind Alfred Reed to colorful life with a mixture of chatty, opinionated writing, interview extracts and contemporary reviews.... The perfect introduction to what is now truly another world."--Doulgas McPherson, Country Music People"Tony Russell has been authoring history making contributions to our knowledge and understanding of American roots music since the 1970s. Country Music Originals delivers a substantial body of new biographical information--and a host of good stories--about many of the relative obscurities from the era of his Discography."--Barry Mazor, No Depression"Country Music Originals combines Tony Russell's encyclopedic knowledge of country music with a lively and matchless prose style. Russell brings to life the work of both major artists and obscure figures whose important contributions might well have been lost were it not for his voluminous research and penetrating insights. It's a stunning achievement, perhaps the best book yet written on the subject."--Nolan Porterfield, author of JimmieRodgers: The Life and Times of America's Blue Yodeler"This is quite unlike any other equivalent documentation of the genre that I have seen.... If you have any interest in the genre at all this is certainly an essential buy."--Keith Chandler, Musical Traditions"Few people alive know as much about the early history of country music as Tony Russell does. Even fewer can write as engagingly about it. In these concise portraits of country music's pioneers, he brings America's musical past to life, revealing such dimly remembered figures as Uncle Jimmy Thompson and Charlie Poole as the living, breathing, creative, and complicated characters they once were. Thoroughly entertaining and indispensable for fans of early countryand roots music."--Paul Kingsbury, editor of Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America and The Encyclopedia of Country Music"Russell has accomplished a spectacular feat in that he has written a thorough reference book that is as pleasing to read as the best of narrative nonfiction." IPublishers Weekly (Starred Review)"Tony Russell is today's pre-eminent country music historian. His exhaustive research and congenially articulate writings have bequeathed much of what we know about the music and those who made it. Reading Country Music Originals has been lots of fun, and I know a lot more now than I did before I opened it."--Dick Spottswood"Russell brings performers like Blind Alfred Reed to colorful life with a mixture of chatty, opinionated writing, interview extracts and contemporary reviews.... The perfect introduction to what is now truly another world."--Doulgas McPherson, Country Music People"Tony Russell has been authoring history making contributions to our knowledge and understanding of American roots music since the 1970s. Country Music Originals delivers a substantial body of new biographical information--and a host of good stories--about many of the relative obscurities from the era of his Discography."--Barry Mazor, No Depression"This is quite unlike any other equivalent documentation of the genre that I have seen.... If you have any interest in the genre at all this is certainly an essential buy."--Keith Chandler, Musical Traditions"Russell has accomplished a spectacular feat in that he has written a thorough reference book that is as pleasing to read as the best of narrative nonfiction." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)"Country Music Originals combines Tony Russell's encyclopedic knowledge of country music with a lively and matchless prose style. Russell brings to life the work of both major artists and obscure figures whose important contributions might well have been lost were it not for his voluminous research and penetrating insights. It's a stunning achievement, perhaps the best book yet written on the subject."--Nolan Porterfield, author of JimmieRodgers: The Life and Times of America's Blue Yodeler"Few people alive know as much about the early history of country music as Tony Russell does. Even fewer can write as engagingly about it. In these concise portraits of country music's pioneers, he brings America's musical past to life, revealing such dimly remembered figures as Uncle Jimmy Thompson and Charlie Poole as the living, breathing, creative, and complicated characters they once were. Thoroughly entertaining and indispensable for fans of early countryand roots music."--Paul Kingsbury, editor of Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America and The Encyclopedia of Country Music"Tony Russell is today's pre-eminent country music historian. His exhaustive research and congenially articulate writings have bequeathed much of what we know about the music and those who made it. Reading Country Music Originals has been lots of fun, and I know a lot more now than I did before I opened it."--Dick Spottswood