Cain has produced a modest but helpful introduction to Americana music. A broad-based musical notion developed in the latter decades of the 20th century and promoted by the Americana Music Association (which was formed in 1995), Americana music includes various types of noncommercial music, e.g., folk, blues, gospel, traditional country, and Irish. Cain focuses mostly on influential musicians—Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter family, Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Muddy Waters, Roger McGuinn—but he also looks at important music businessmen (Sam Phillips of Sun Records, Atlanta DJ Zenas Sears). There is brief biographical information on Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers, Rosanne Cash, the Clancy Brothers, Thomas A. Dorsey, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Kris Kristofferson, Patsy Cline, Joe South, John Stewart, Jennifer Knapp, the Allman Brothers, Steve Earle, Jim Lauderdale, Mumford and Sons, and the Avett Brothers. The author draws on numerous interviews. The bibliography references section includes some recent secondary publications…. The discography may prove useful. Americana music needs much more research, but this is a decent start.Summing Up: Recommended…. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.
Does Americana have a future? There is an Americana Music Association, together with an annual awards show and some radio/satellite/public-television programming with that format. There are a few magazines. No one who is not financially involved with the music industry would deny that independent voices are a good thing. So it's worth your while to pay attention. And while you're doing so, you really need to read The Americana Revolution, a spirited guide to both the sounds and the questions.
Cain has produced a modest but helpful introduction to Americana music. A broad-based musical notion developed in the latter decades of the 20th century and promoted by the Americana Music Association (which was formed in 1995), Americana music includes various types of noncommercial music, e.g., folk, blues, gospel, traditional country, and Irish. Cain focuses mostly on influential musicians—Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter family, Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Muddy Waters, Roger McGuinn—but he also looks at important music businessmen (Sam Phillips of Sun Records, Atlanta DJ Zenas Sears). There is brief biographical information on Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers, Rosanne Cash, the Clancy Brothers, Thomas A. Dorsey, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Kris Kristofferson, Patsy Cline, Joe South, John Stewart, Jennifer Knapp, the Allman Brothers, Steve Earle, Jim Lauderdale, Mumford and Sons, and the Avett Brothers. The author draws on numerous interviews. The bibliography references section includes some recent secondary publications…. The discography may prove useful. Americana music needs much more research, but this is a decent start. Summing Up: Recommended…. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.
Cain has produced a modest but helpful introduction to Americana music. A broad-based musical notion developed in the latter decades of the 20th century and promoted by the Americana Music Association (which was formed in 1995), Americana music includes various types of noncommercial music, e.g., folk, blues, gospel, traditional country, and Irish. Cain focuses mostly on influential musiciansJimmie Rodgers, the Carter family, Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Muddy Waters, Roger McGuinnbut he also looks at important music businessmen (Sam Phillips of Sun Records, Atlanta DJ Zenas Sears). There is brief biographical information on Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers, Rosanne Cash, the Clancy Brothers, Thomas A. Dorsey, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Kris Kristofferson, Patsy Cline, Joe South, John Stewart, Jennifer Knapp, the Allman Brothers, Steve Earle, Jim Lauderdale, Mumford and Sons, and the Avett Brothers. The author draws on numerous interviews. The bibliography references section includes some recent secondary publications…. The discography may prove useful. Americana music needs much more research, but this is a decent start.
Summing Up: Recommended…. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.