The First Generation of Country Music Stars: Biographies of 50 Artists Born Before 1940

Contents

• Table of Contents
• Preface     
• Introduction     
• PART ONE: THE PIONEERS      
• Fiddlin’ John Carson (1868–1949): The Virginia Reeler     
• Uncle Dave Macon (1870–1952): King of the Hillbillies     
• Dr. Humphrey Bate (1875–1936): The Possum Hunter     
• Vernon Dalhart (1883–1948): A Country Star     
• Gid Tanner (1885–1960): The Skillet Licker     
• A.P. Carter (1891–1960): Family Patriarch     
• Charlie Poole (1892–1931): North Carolina Rambler     
• E.V. “Pop” Stoneman (1893–1968): Country Patriarch     
• Riley Puckett (1894–1946): Blind Ambition     
• Jimmie Rodgers (1897–1933): The Singing Brakeman     
• PART TWO: COWBOYS AND RADIO STARS      
• Ken Maynard (1895–1973): Wagon Master     
• Roy Acuff (1903–1992): Wabash Cannonball     
• Wilf Carter (1904–1996): Montana Slim     
• Tex Ritter (1907–1974): Lone Star Cowboy     
• Gene Autry (1907–1998): The Singing Cowboy     
• Red Foley (1910–1968): The Mainstream Voice     
• Roy Rogers (1911–1998): Happy Trails Forever     
• Hank Snow (1914–1999): The Travelin’ Canadian     
• Merle Travis (1917–1983): The Individualist     
• Eddy Arnold (1918–): The Tennessee Plowboy     
• PART THREE: WESTERN SWING/BLUEGRASS/HONKY TONK      
• Bob Wills (1905–1975): The Western Swing King     
• Bill Monroe (1911–1996): The Bluegrass Rambler     
• Ernest Tubb (1914–1984): The Texas Troubadour     
• Lester Flatt (1914–1979): Flat Pickin’     
• Hank Williams, Sr. (1923–1953): Life to Legend     
• Earl Scruggs (1924–): Dueling Banjoist     
• Hank Thompson (1925–): Texas Swing     
• Ray Price (1926–): Cherokee Cowboy     
• George Jones (1931–): Honky Tonk Texan     
• PART FOUR: WOMEN OF COUNTRY MUSIC      
• Sara Carter (1899–1979): Wildwood Flower     
• Maybelle Carter (1909–1978): Country Matriarch     
• Dale Evans (1912–2001): Queen of the Cowgirls     
• Kitty Wells (1918–): Queen of Country Music     
• Molly O’Day (1923–1987): A Defining Role     
• June Carter Cash (1929–2003): A Song in Her Heart     
• Patsy Cline (1932–1963): A Country Music Treasure     
• Loretta Lynn (1934–): Coal Miner Heartbreak     
• Wanda Jackson (1937–): Country Music Heart     
• PART FIVE: OUTLAWS, REBELS AND SUPERSTARS      
• Chet Atkins (1924–2001): The Superpicker     
• Marty Robbins (1925–1982): The Country Chameleon     
• Buck Owens (1929–2006): Baron of Bakersfield     
• Johnny Cash (1932–2003): The Man in Black     
• Charlie Rich (1932–1995): The Silver Fox     
• Glen Campbell (1936–): Rhinestone Cowboy     
• Roy Clark (1933–): Lightning Fingers     
• Willie Nelson (1933–): Austin Outlaw     
• Conway Twitty (1933–1993): Uncrowned King     
• Waylon Jennings (1937–2002): Ladies Love Outlaws     
• Merle Haggard (1937–): Lonesome Fugitive     
• Kenny Rogers (1938–): The Gambler     
• Bibliography     
• Index