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Historic Bibliographies and Reference Aids

Country Music Before World War Two: A Selected Bibliography

Compiled by: Ruth Tonachel
Publication Date: June 15, 1978

Ahrens, Pat J. A History of the Musical Careers of Dewitt "Snuffy" Jenkins, Banjoist, and Homer "Pappy" Sherill, Fiddler. West Columbia, South Carolina: Wentworth Corp., 1970.

"The Role of the Crazy Water Crystals Company in Promoting Hillbilly Music." JEMF Quarterly, volume 6, part 3, number 19, Autumn 1970, pp. 107-109.

Anonymous. "The Rise and Fall of Country Music." Cotton Patch Rag, volume 3, number 10, 1968, pp. 2-5.

"Setting the Opry Record Straight." Billboard, volume 82, number 17, April 25, 1970, pp. NlO-N13.

Antrim, Doron K. "Whoop and Holler Opera." Colliers', volume 117, number 4, January 26, 1946, pp. 18, 85. Reprinted in Gentry, second edition, pp. 41-47.

Atkins, John. The Carter Family. London: Old Time Music, 1973. (Old Time Music Booklet 1.)

Averill, Patricia. "Folk and Popular Elements in Modern Country Music." Journal of Country Music, volume 5, number 2, Summer 1974, pp. 43-54.

Barthel, Norma. Ernest Tubb Discography (1936-1969). Roland, Oklahoma: Norma Barthel, 1970.

Blaustein, Richard. "WOPI - The Pioneer Voice of the Appalachians." Journal of Country Music, volume 6, number 3, Fall 1975, pp. 122-129.

Bolick, William A. "Bill Bolick's Own Story of The Blue Sky Boys." Sing Out!, volume 17, number 2, April-May 1967, pp. 18-22.

Bond, Cyrus Whitfield (Johnny). The Tex Ritter Story. New York: Chappell Music Co., 1976.

Burman, Linda C. "The Technique of Variation in an American Fiddle Tune (A Study of 'Sail Away Lady' as It Was Performed in 1926 for Columbia Records by Uncle Bunt Stephens)." Ethnomusicology, volume 12, number 1, January 1968, pp. 49-71.

Burrison, John A. "Fiddlers in the Alley: Atlanta as an Early Country Music Center." Atlanta Historical Bulletin, volume 21, number 2, Summer 1977, pp. 59-87.

Carter, Wilf. The Yodelling Cowboy: Montana Slim from Nova Scotia. Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1961.

Cogswell, Robert. "Commercial Hillbilly Lyrics and The Folk Tradition." Journal of Country Music, volume 3, number 3-4, Fall-Winter 1972-1973, pp. 65-106.

Cohen, Anne and Norm. "Folk and Hillbilly Music: Further Thoughts on Their Relation." JEMF Quarterly, volume 13, number 46, Summer 1977, pp. 50-57.

"The Legendary Jimmie Tarleton." Sing Out!, volume 16, number 4, September 1966, pp. 16-19.

"Tune Evolution as an Indicator of Traditional Musical Norms." Journal of American Folklore, volume 86, number 339, January-March 1973, pp. 37-47.

Cohen, John. "Fiddlin' Eck Robertson." Sing Out!, volume 14, number 2, April-May 1964, pp. 55-59.

"The Folk Music Interchange: Negro and White." Sing Out!, volume 14, number 6, January 1964, pp. 42-49.

Cohen, John and Mike Seeger, eds. The New Lost City Ramblers Songbook. New York: Oak, 1964. Reprinted as: The Old-Time Stringband Songbook. New York: Oak, 1976.

Cohen, Norm."An Annotated Checklist of Published Hillbilly Discographies." JEMF Quarterly, volume 3, part 1, number 7, September 1967, pp. 29-30; part 2, number 8, December 1967, pp. 59-65; volume 4, part 1, number 9, March 1968, p. 28.

"Computerized Hillbilly Discography: The Gennett Project." Western Folklore, volume 30, number 3, July 1971, pp. 182-193. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, numbers 17-25.

"Fiddlin' John Carson: An Appreciation and a Discography." JEMF Quarterly, volume 10, part 4, number 36, Winter 1974, pp. 138-156.

"Folk Music Discography." Western Folklore, volume 30, number 3, July 1971, pp. 235-246. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, numbers 17-25.

"Henry Whitter: His Life and Music." JEMF Quarterly, volume 11, part 2, number 38, Summer 1975, pp. 57-66.

"Materials Toward a Study of Early Country Music on Radio: Nashville." JEMF Quarterly, volume 4, part 3, number 11, September 1968, pp. 109-113.

"Riley Puckett: King of the Hillbillies." JEMF Quarterly, volume 12, number 44, Winter 1976, pp. 175-184.

"Scopes and Evolution in Hillbilly Songs." JEMF Quarterly, volume 6, part 4, number 20, Winter 1971, pp. 174-181.

"The Skillet Lickers: A Study of a Hillbilly String Band and Its Repertoire." Journal of American Folklore, volume 78, number 309, July-September 1965, pp. 229-244. Reprinted in Gentry, second edition, pp. 234-254. Also reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, number 5.

Cohen, Norm, Eugene W. Earle and Graham Wickham. The Early Recording Career of Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman: A Bio-Discography. Los Angeles: John Edwards Memorial Foundation, 1968. (Special Series, Number 1.) Revised from articles in JEMF Quarterly, numbers 7-9.

Cohen, Norm and Guthrie T. Meade, Jr. "The Sources of Old Time Hillbilly Music: 1: Child Ballads." JEMF Quarterly, volume 9, part 2, number 30, Summer 1973, pp. 56-61.

Coltman, Robert (Bob). "Across the Chasm: How the Depression Changed Country Music." Old Time Music, number 23, Winter 1976-1977, pp. 6-12.

"Habitantbilly: French-Canadian Old Time Music." Old Time Music, number 11, Winter 1973-1974, pp. 9-13; number 12, Spring 1974, pp. 9-14.

"Look Out! Here He Comes: Fiddlin' John Carson: One of a Kind and Twice as Feisty." Old Time Music, number 9, Summer 1973, pp. 16-21.

"Roots of the Country Yodel: Notes Toward a Life History." JEMF Quarterly, volume 12, number 42, Summer 1976, pp. 91-94.

Comber, Chris. "Old-Time Versus Modern." Country Music People, volume 4, number 3, March 1973, pp. 22-25.

Crichton, Kyle. "Thar's Gold in Them Thar Hillbillies." Colliers', volume 101, number 18, April 30, 1938, pp. 24-27. Reprinted in Gentry, second edition, pp. 24-28.

Cummings, Don G. Birth of Grand Ole Opry. Nashville: D. G. Cummings, 1964.

Daniel, Harlan. "Who Was Who? - An Index of Hill Country Recording Pseudonyms." American Folk Music Occasional, number 2, 1970, pp. 62-72.

Darlington, Sandy. "American Country Music: Part 2 - The Aspects' Revenge." Folk Scene, number 17, March-April 1966, pp. 19-23.

Delmore, Alton. Truth Is Stranger Than Publicity: Alton Delmore's Autobiography. Nashville: Country Music Foundation Press, 1977.

Earle, Eugene W. "The John Edwards Memorial Foundation." Western Folklore, volume 30, number 3, July 1971, pp. 177-181. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, numbers 17-25.

"The John Edwards Memorial Foundation, Inc." Western Folklore, volume 23, number 2, April 1964, pp. 111-113. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, number 1.

Fallwell, Marshall. "E. T. Remembers." Country Music, volume 2, number 8, April 1974, pp. 72-77. (Ernest Tubb.)

Farrell, Frances M. "The John Edwards Memorial Foundation as a Raw Data Source for the Study of Women in Country Music." JEMF Quarterly, volume 13, number 48, Winter 1977, pp. 161-167.

Frankenstein, Alfred V. "George Alley: A Study in Modern Folklore (How the Balladists Work Their Wiles in Fact and Fancy)." Musical Courier, volume 104, number 16, April 16, 1932, p. 6. Reprinted in JEMF Quarterly, volume 2, number 3, June 1967, pp. 46-47.

Gentry, Linnell. A History and Encyclopedia of Country, Western and Gospel Music. Second edition, Nashville: Clairmont Corp., 1969.

Green, Archie. "Bradley Kincaid's Folios." JEMF Quarterly, volume 13, number 45, Summer (i.e. Spring) 1977, pp. 21-28. (Commercial Music Graphics, no. 40.)

"The Carter Family's Coal Miner's Blues." Southern Folklore Quarterly, volume 25, number 4, December 1961, pp. 226-237.

"Commercial Music Graphics." Series in JEMF Quarterly, beginning volume 2, part 3, number 6, June 1967.

"A Discography/Biography Journey: The Martin-Roberts-Martin 'Aggregation'." Western Folklore, volume 30, number 3, July 1971, pp. 194-201. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, numbers 17-25.

"Hillbilly Music: Source and Symbol." Journal of American Folklore, volume 78, number 309, July-September 1965, pp. 204-228. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, number 4.

Only a Miner: Studies in Recorded Coal Mining Songs. Urbana: Univ. of Illinois Press, 1972.

"Will the Weaver's Hillbilly Kinfolk." Caravan, number 18, August-September 1959, pp. 14-23.

Green, Douglas B. "After One Year: A Look at the Country Music Foundation's Oral History Project." Devil's Box, volume 9, number 1, March 1975, pp. 45-49.

Country Roots: The Origins of Country Music. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1976.

"Roy Acuff: Reflections on a Life in Country Music." Muleskinner News, volume 5, number 8, August 1974, pp. 16-25.

Greenway, John. "Country-Western: The Music of America." American West, volume 5, number 6, November 1968, pp. 32-41.

"Jimmie Rodgers - A Folksong Catalyst." Journal of American Folklore, volume 70, number 277, July-September 1957, pp. 231-234.

Haden, Walter Darrell. "Vernon Dahlhart: Commercial Country Music's First International Star." JEMF Quarterly, volume 11, part 2, number 38, Summer 1975, pp. 95-103; part 3, number 39, Autumn 1975, pp. 129-136. Expanded version appears in Malone and McCulloh, eds., Stars of Country Music, pp. 64-85.

"Vernon Dahlhart (1883-1948) and 'The Prisoner's Song'." JEMF Quarterly, volume 6, part 4, number 20, Winter 1971, pp. 152-159.

"Vernon Dahlhart: His Rural Roots and the Beginnings of Commercial Country Music." Association for Recorded Sound Collections Journal, volume 3, number 1, Winter 1970-1971, pp. 19-32.

Halpert, Herbert. "Some Recorded American Folk Song." American Music Lover, volume 2, number 7, November 1936, pp. 196-200.

Harkreader, Sidney J. Fiddlin' Sid's Memoirs: The Autobiography of Sidney J. Harkreader. Edited by Professor Walter D. Haden. Los Angeles: John Edwards Memorial Foundation, 1976. (JEMF Special Series, number 9.)

Hay, George D. A Story of the Grand Ole Opry. Nashville: George D. Hay, 1953.

Healy, Robert. "Mail Order Mountain Music." Record Research. number 66, February 1965, pp. 3-4; number 67, April 1965, pp. 7-9, 14.

Hickerson, Joseph C. "Song Folios and Related Resources in Hillbilly Music." Western Folklore, volume 30, number 3, July 1971, pp. 202-205. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, numbers 17-25.

Hoeptner, Fred. "Folk and Hillbilly Music: The Background of Their Relation." Caravan, number 16, April-May 1959, pp. 8, 16, 17, 42; number 17, June-July 1959, pp. 20-23, 26-28. Reprinted in The Pictorial History of Country Music, volume 2, Thurston Moore, ed., Denver: Heather, 1966, pp. 18-19.

Horstman, Dorothy. Sing Your Heart Out Country Boy: Classic Country Songs and Their Inside Stories By the People Who Wrote Them. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1975.

Hurst, Jack. Grand Ole Opry. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1975.

Kahn, Ed. "Hillbilly Music: Source and Resource." Journal of American Folklore, volume 78, number 309, July-September 1965, pp. 257-266. Reprinted in Gentry, second edition, pp. 192-205. Also reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, number 7.

Keyes, Saundra."'Little Mary Phagan': A Native American Ballad in Context." Journal of Country Music, volume 3, number 1, Spring 1972, pp. 1-16.

Leamy, Hugh. "Now Come All You Good People." Colliers', volume 84, number 18, November 2, 1929, pp. 20, 58, 59. Reprinted in American Folk Music Occasional, number 1, 1964, pp. 38-42. Also reprinted in Gentry, second edition, pp. 6-13. (About Carson J. Robison as a song writer.)

Library of Congress, The Archive of American Folk Song. A List of American Folksongs Currently Available on Records. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, Music Division, 1953.

Lumpkin, Ben Gray. Folksongs on Records: Issue 3. Boulder: Folksongs on Records; Denver: Alan Swallow, 1950.

Lund, Jens. "Fundamentalism, Racism, and Political Reaction in Country Music." In The Sounds of Social Change, Serge D. Denisoff and Richard A. Peterson, eds., Chicago: Rand McNally, 1972, pp. 79-91.

McCulloh, Judith."Hillbilly Records and Tune Transcriptions." Western Folklore, volume 26, number 4, October 1967, pp. 225-244. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, number 9.

"Some Child Ballads on Hillbilly Records." In Folklore & Society: Essays in Honor of Benj. A. Botkin, Bruce Jackson, ed., Hatboro, Pennsylvania: Folklore Associates, 1966, pp. 107-129. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, number 10.

McDonald, James J. "Principal Influences on the Music of the Lilly Brothers of Clear Creek, West Virginia." Journal of American Folklore, volume 86, number 342, October-December 1973, pp. 331-344. Reprinted in Goldenseal, volume 1, number 1, April-June 1975, pp. 27-36, 40.

Malone, Bill C. "Country Music, the South, and Americanism." Mississippi Folklore Register, volume 10, number 1, Spring 1976, pp. 54-66.

Country Music U.S.A.: A Fifty Year History. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1968. (Memoirs of the American Folklore Society, volume 54.)

"From Folk to Hillbilly to Country: The Coming of Age of America's Rural Music." In Observations and Reflections on Texas Folklore, Francis E. Abernethy, ed., Austin: Encino Press, 1972 (Publications of the Texas Folklore Society, no. 37), pp. 101-116.

"Radio and Personal Appearances: Sources and Resources." Western Folklore, volume 30, number 3, July 1971, pp. 215-225. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, number 17-25.

"Roots and Branches, Part One: In the Beginning." Country Music, volume 5, number 10, July 1976, pp. 22-25.

Malone, Bill C. and Judith McCulloh, eds. Stars of Country Music. Urbana: Univ. of Illinois Press, 1975; New York: Avon Books, 1976.

Marshall Howard Wight. "'Black Jack David' on Wax: Child 200 and Recorded Hillbilly Music." Keystone Folklore Quarterly, volume 17, number 4, Winter 1972, pp. 133-143.

Meade, Guthrie T., Jr. "Copyright: A Tool for Commercial Rural Music Research." Western Folklore, volume 30, number 3, July 1971, pp. 206-214. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, numbers 17-25.

Mitsui, Toru. Kantori Ongaku No Rekishi [A History of Country Music]. Tokyo: Ongaku-no-Tomo Sha, 1971.

Moore, Thurston, ed. A Pictorial History of Country Music. 4 Volumes. Denver: Heather, 1969. Volume 1 is Part 6 of 1965 Who's Who in Country Music (Denver: Heather, 1965). Volume 2 is Part 8 of 1966 Who's Who in Country Music (Denver: Heather, 1966). Volume 3 is Part 7 of 1970 Who's Who in Country Music (New York: Record World, 1970). Volume 4 is pp. G21-H64 in 1972 Who's Who in Country Music (Nashville: Record World, 1972). In addition, volumes 1 and 2 were published as separate volumes.

Nicholas, Joe. "The Grand-Daddy of American Country Music." Caravan, number 18, August-September 1959, pp. 36-43. (Dave Macon.)

Orgill, Michael. Anchored in Love: The Carter Family Story. Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1975.

Porterfield, Nolan. "Stranger Through Your Town: The Backgrounds and Early Life of Jimmie Rodgers." JEMF Quarterly, volume 13, number 45, Summer (i.e. Spring) 1977, pp. 4-16.

Pouliot, Les with Hugh Cherry. The History of Country Music: A 36 Hour Radio Documentary. Memphis: J. Thayer and Don Bruce Together, 1970.

Price, Steven D. Take Me Home: The Rise of Country and Western Music. New York and Washington: Praeger Publications, 1974.

Rinzler, Ralph and Norm Cohen. Uncle Dave Macon: A Bio-Discography. Los Angeles: John Edwards Memorial Foundation, 1970. (JEMF Special Series, number 3.)

Rodgers, Carrie Cecil Williamson (Mrs. Jimmie). My Husband Jimmie Rodgers. San Antonio: Southern Literary Institute, 1935. Reprint edition, Nashville: Country Music Foundation Press, 1975.

Rodgers, Jimmie. The Legendary Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Folio. 2 volumes. New York: Peer International, 1967.

Rorrer, Clifford Kinney. Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers. Eden, North Carolina: Tar Heel Printing, 1968.

Rosenberg, Neil V. Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys: An Illustrated Discography. Nashville: Country Music Foundation Press, 1974.

"From Sound to Style: The Emergence of Bluegrass." Journal of American Folklore, volume 80, number 316, April-June 1967, pp. 143-150. Reprinted in Gentry, second edition, pp. 309-318.

Russell, Tony. Blacks, Whites and Blues. London: Studio Vista; New York: Stein and Day, 1970.

"Georgia Stringbands: A Brief Survey." Old Time Music, number 4, Spring 1972, pp. 4-8.

"Mississippi Directory of Recorded Artists, 1927-1936." Old Time Music, number 20, Spring 1976, pp. 36-42.

"Old Time Roundup: A Basic Library of Fifty Reissue Albums." Old Time Music, number 1, Summer 1971, pp. 17-19.

Schlappi, Elizabeth, comp. Roy Acuff and His Smoky Mountain Boys: Domestic Discography. Cheswold, Delaware: Disc Collector Publications, 1966. (Disc Collector, no. 23.) Reprinted in 1972 Who's Who in Country Music, Nashville: Record World Publications, 1972, pp. H49-H62.

Sheldon, Ruth (Knowles). Hubbin' It: The Life of Bob Wills. Kingsport, Tennessee: Kingsport Press, 1938.

Shelton, Robert and Burt Goldblatt. The Country Music Story: A Picture History of Country and Western Music. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1966.

Shestack, Melvin. The Country Music Encyclopedia. New York: T. Y. Crowell Co., 1974.

Smith, L. Mayne. "An Introduction to Bluegrass." Journal of American Folklore, volume 78, number 309, July-September 1965, pp. 245-256. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, number 6.

Stambler, Irwin and Grelun Landon. Encyclopedia of Folk, Country and Western Music. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1969.

Golden Guitars: The Story of Country Music. New York: Four Winds Press, 1971.

Strachwitz, Chris A. "Mainers' Mountaineers." American Folk Music Occasional, number 1, 1964, pp. 49-60.

Stribling, Cynthia D. "Black and White Elements in the Music of Jimmie Rodgers." Mississippi Folklore Register, volume 10, number 1, Spring 1976, pp. 41-53.

Tassin, Myron and Jerry Henderson. Fifty Years at the Grand Ole Opry. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican, 1975.

Tosches, Nick. Country: The Biggest Music in America. New York: Stein and Day, 1977.

Townsend, Charles R. San Antonio Rose: The Life and Music of Bob Wills. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1976.

Tribe, Ivan M. "West Virginia Country Music During the Golden Age of Radio." Goldenseal, volume 3, number 3, July-August 1977, pp. 15-25, 52-54.

Walsh, Jim. "Favorite Pioneer Recording Artists: Vernon Dalhart."8-part series in Hobbies, volume 64, numbers 3-6; volume 65, numbers 7-10, May-December 1960.

"Late Carson Robison Pioneered Hillbilly Disc Biz Thirty Years Ago." Variety, volume 206, number 8, April 24, 1957, pp. 45, 48.

Wickham, Graham."An Annotated Checklist of Published Hillbilly Numericals." JEMF Quarterly, volume 4, part 2, number 10, June 1968, pp. 78-80.

Wilgus, D. K. "Country-Western Music and the Urban Hillbilly." Journal of American Folklore, volume 83, number 328, April-June 1970, pp. 157-184. Reprinted in The Urban Experience and the Folk Tradition, Américo Paredes and Ellen J. Stekert, eds., Austin: University of Texas Press, 1971, pp. 137-164. Also reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, number 16.

"Current Hillbilly Recordings: A Review Article." Journal of American Folklore, volume 78, number 309, July-September 1965, pp. 267-286. Reprinted in Gentry, second edition, pp. 168-191. Also reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, number 8.

"Folksong and Folksong Scholarship: Changing Approaches and Attitudes: A Rationalistic Approach." In A Good Tale and a Bonny Tune, Boatright, Hudson and Maxwell, eds., Dallas: Southern Methodist University Press, 1964 (Texas Folklore Society Publication, number 32), pp. 227-237.

"The Hillbilly Movement." In Our Living Traditions, Tristram P. Coffin, ed., New York: Basic Books, 1968, pp. 263-271.

"The Individual Song: 'Billy the Kid'." Western Folklore, volume 30, number 3, July 1971, pp. 226-234. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, numbers 17-25.

"Introduction." Western Folklore, volume 30, number 3, July 1971, pp. 171-176. Reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, numbers 17-25.

"An Introduction to the Study of Hillbilly Music." Journal of American Folklore, volume 78, number 309, July-September 1965, pp. 195-203. Reprinted in Gentry, second edition, pp. 214-233. Also reprinted in JEMF Reprint Series, number 3.

Wilgus, D. K. and Nathan Hurvitz. "'Little Mary Phagan': Further Notes on a Native American Ballad in Context." Journal of Country Music, volume 4, number 1, Spring 1973, pp. 17-30.

Wolfe, Charles K. "Early Country Music in Knoxville: The Brunswick Sessions and the End of an Era." Old Time Music, number 12, Spring 1974, pp. 19-33.

The Grand Ole Opry: The Early Years, 1925-35. London: Old Time Music, 1975. (Old Time Music Booklet 2.)

"Nashville and Country Music, 1926-1930: Notes on Early Nashville Media and Its Response to Old-Time Music." Journal of Country Music, volume 4, number 1, Spring 1973, pp. 2-16.

"Ralph Peer at Work: The Victor 1927 Bristol Sessions." Old Time Music, number 5, Summer 1972, pp. 10-15.

"Toward a Contextual Approach to Old-Time Music." Journal of Country Music, volume 5, number 2, Summer 1974, pp. 65-75.

Wolfe, Charles K. and Bill Harrison."Uncle Jimmy Thompson, His Life and Times: 1848-1931." Devil's Box, volume 9, number 3, September 1975, pp. 33-54.

Zolotow, Maurice. "Hillbilly Boom." Saturday Evening Post, volume 216, number 33, February 12, 1944, pp. 22, 23, 36, 38. Reprinted in Gentry, second edition, pp. 36-42.

Zolten, Jerry. "Western Swingtime Music: A Cool Breeze in the American Desert." Sing Out!, volume 23, number 2, May-June 1974, pp. 2-5.

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