''Country'' was the first book published by ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' magazine critic

Nick Tosches Nicholas P. Tosches (; October 23, 1949 – October 20, 2019) was an American journalist, novelist, biographer, and poet. His 1982 biography of Jerry Lee Lewis, '' Hellfire'', was praised by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as "the best rock and roll ...

. Released in 1977 under the title ''Country: The Biggest Music in America'', it was retitled in later editions as ''Country: Living Legends and Dying Metaphors in America's Biggest Music'' and ''Country: The Twisted Roots of Rock and Roll''. Rather than a detailed, chronological study of country music, the book is arranged like a fan's scrapbook, leaping across time and subject. Throughout ''Country'', Tosches makes a point of paying tribute to pivotal but undersung figures in country, hillbilly, and blues music, including

Emmett Miller Emmett Miller (February 2, 1900 – March 29, 1962) was an American minstrel show performer and recording artist known for his falsetto, yodel-like voice. Miller was a major influence on many country music singers, including Hank Williams, Jimmie ...

Cliff Carlisle Cliff Carlisle (May 6, 1903 – April 5, 1983) was an American country and blues musician, singer and songwriter. Carlisle was a yodeler and was a pioneer in the use of the Hawaiian steel guitar in country music. He was a brother of country mu ...

, and Val and Pete. He also pays tribute to early music writers, such as

Emma Bell Miles Emma Bell Miles (October 19, 1879 – March 19, 1919) was a writer, poet, and artist whose works capture the essence of the natural world and the culture of southern Appalachia. Early life and education Miles was born Emma Bell in Evansville, I ...

, whose 1904 essay ''Some Real American Music'' Tosches called "the most beautiful prose written of country music."

References

{{Reflist 1977 books Music books Books by Nick Tosches