Grassroots Music in the Upper Cumberland
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Montell, William Lynwood, PUBLISHER: University ong>ofong> Tennessee Press, The bi-state Upper Cumberland region--as discussed in William Lynwood Montell's new book, Grassroots in the Upper Cumberland--includes eight counties in Tennessee (Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, and Putnam) and eight counties in Kentucky (Adair, Clinton, Cumberland, Metcalfe, Monroe, Pulaski, Russell, and Wayne). It is an area uniquely rich in traditional music. The importance ong>ofong> family ties and a deeply ingrained sense ong>ofong> community led to the flourishing ong>ofong> a distinct musical legacy from the s up to the present day. In this pathbreaking study ong>ofong> a region's music, William Lynwood Montell brings together an enormous trove ong>ofong> information about the folk practices, the transmission ong>ofong> musical skill and style, and the influence ong>ofong> traditional music on popular music (and vice-versa). Written by experts on the individual counties, each chapter focuses on one county and contextualizes its music within the broader musical legacy ong>ofong> the region. The result is a comprehensive look at the full musical spectrum ong>ofong> this area that avoids the ong>ofong>ten scattershot approach ong>ofong> statewide studies ong>ofong> music. As the book moves from county to county, the reader encounters a rich, living tradition ong>ofong> music. While the region's music is distinctive, it is nothing if not diverse, and various authors cover a variety ong>ofong> musical styles: English ballads, gospel, bluegrass, modern country, and even rock 'n' roll all find their unique expression in the musical mosaic ong>ofong> the Upper Cumberland. Among the many notable musicians from the region who come under close scrutiny are Archie Lee, Richard "Blind Dick" Burnett, Finley "Red" Belcher, Blake Williams, Lester Flatt, Steve Wariner, MandyBarnett, Lola Jean Dillon, and John Anderson, to name just a few. A celebration ong>ofong> local musicians and their stories as well as a look at how a musical legacy is transmitted from one generation to the next, this book will be ong>ofong> interest to students ong>ofong> traditional music and to music fans alike.