Vintage Country: The Essential Artists and Songs, from Old-Time to Honky-Tonk, 1920–1970

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Tony Russell Scott B. Bomar

Vintage Country

The Essential Artists and Songs, from Old-Time to Honky-Tonk, 1920–1970

Tony Russell, Scott B. Bomar

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English

Miscellaneous
01 December 2025

Music; Folk & traditional music; Individual composers & musicians, bands & groups; Biography: arts & entertainment; History: specific events & topics

Discover the roots of country music with Vintage Country-an illustrated journey through 100+ pioneering artists, styles, and essential recordings.

Vintage Country is the first illustrated book to explore the rural and urban roots of country music, tracing its evolution from early recordings and radio days to its 1940s1950s rise, before Nashville's dominance.

Written by renowned historian Tony Russell, it profiles over 100 key artists and bands, including Jimmie Rodgers, Doc Boggs, Taylor's Kentucky Boys, Red Foley, DeZurik Sisters, Carl T. Sprague, Hackberry Ramblers, Hank Williams, Molly O'Day, Merle Travis, and the Louvin Brothers.

The book is organized into six chapters by style and era: pre-Depression Old Time music, Radio Years stars (1930sWWII), cowboy & western music, western swing, honky tonk, and bluegrass. Each entry highlights the artist's history, influences, and career, with an essential recordings list for quick reference.

Richly illustrated with posters, sheet music, and artifacts, Vintage Country brings the genre's origins to life through evocative visuals and expert storytelling, making it a compelling resource for music lovers and historians alike.

AUTHORS: Tony Russell is a leading historian of American vernacular music. His books include Blacks, Whites and Blues (1970; reprinted 2001), Country Music Records: A Discography, 19211942 (2004), Country Music Originals: The Legends and the Lost (2007), and Rural Rhythm: The Story of Old-Time Country Music in 78 Records (2021). He has been nominated twice for a Grammy for Best Album Notes and has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Association of Recorded Sound Collections and the International Country Music Conference.

Scott B. Bomar is an award-winning writer, researcher, and music historian based in Los Angeles. He has authored or co-authored six books, including The Byrds: 19641967 (with Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, and David Crosby), Every Night Is Saturday Night (with Wanda Jackson), Johnny Cash at Folsom & San Quentin, and the forthcoming Bakersfield Sounds: The Rise and Fall of Country Music's Nashville West. Scott has earned three Grammy nominations in the category of Best Album Notes, including for his 10-CD box set The Bakersfield Sound. In 2024 he received the Chet Flippo Award for Excellence in Country Music Journalism.

160 colour and b/w illustrations

By: Tony Russell
Foreword by: Scott B. Bomar
Imprint: Miscellaneous
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 178mm, Width: 140mm,
Weight: 680g
ISBN: 9780764369681
ISBN 10: 0764369687
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 01 December 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Other merchandise
Publisher's Status: Active

Tony Russell is a leading historian of American vernacular music. His books include Blacks, Whites and Blues (1970; reprinted 2001), Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921–1942 (2004), Country Music Originals: The Legends and the Lost (2007), and Rural Rhythm: The Story of Old-Time Country Music in 78 Records (2021). He has been nominated twice for a Grammy for Best Album Notes and has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Association of Recorded Sound Collections and the International Country Music Conference. Scott B. Bomar is an award-winning writer, researcher, and music historian based in Los Angeles. He has authored or co-authored six books, including The Byrds: 1964–1967 (with Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, and David Crosby), Every Night Is Saturday Night (with Wanda Jackson), Johnny Cash at Folsom & San Quentin, and the forthcoming Bakersfield Sounds: The Rise and Fall of Country Music’s “Nashville West.” Scott has earned three Grammy nominations in the category of Best Album Notes, including for his 10-CD box set The Bakersfield Sound. In 2024 he received the Chet Flippo Award for Excellence in Country Music Journalism.

Reviews for Vintage Country: The Essential Artists and Songs, from Old-Time to Honky-Tonk, 1920–1970

""...a compelling and definitive resource for both casual fans and serious music historians...By focusing on the era before commercial uniformity, Russell provides a crucial context often lost in modern discussions of country music...the book serves as both a detailed map of country music's diverse roots and a vibrant, long-overdue celebration of the artists who truly defined them. It is highly recommended for anyone looking to understand the essential artists and evolution of American country music."" -- —Country Music News International Magazine