Description
Book SynopsisAn astute collection of inquiries into the rich history and impact of the National Barn Dance
Trade Review“An interesting but complicated book. . . . I highly recommend it.”--
Appalachian Heritage"Well written and informative.”--Dirty Linen
"A valuable resource for those who want to understand how country music, rural imagery, and nostalgia permeated twentieth-century American life."--Joli Jensen, author of
The Nashville Sound: Authenticity, Commercialization, and Country Music"The
National Barn Dance's importance has long been underappreciated in the scholarship on country music, and
The Hayloft Gang makes a vital contribution to be welcomed by academics and aficionados alike. A particularly strong group of authoritative voices on the history of country music, early radio broadcasting, and American culture."--Diane Pecknold, author of
The Selling Sound: The Rise of the Country Music IndustryTable of ContentsForeword
Loyal Jones vii Acknowledgments xi
Introduction: Assessing the National Barn Dance
Chad Berry 1 1. The Rise of Rural Rhythm
Paul L. Tyler 19 2. Music of the Postwar Era
Wayne W. Daniel 72 3. Chicago as Forgotten Country Music Mecca
Lisa Krissoff Boehm 101 4. Early Broadcasting and Radio Audiences
Susan Smulyan 119 5. Race and Rural Identity
Michael T. Bertrand 130 6. Patriarchy and the Great Depression
Kristine M. McCuscker 153 7. Cowboys in Chicago
Don Cusic 168 8. The National Folk Festival
Michael Ann Williams 187 Afterword
Stephen Parry 199 Contributors 205
Index 207
