Contains nine essays in which the authors examine various aspects of Texas music from its beginnings to 1950, providing an overview of Texas music history, and discussing Texan jazz, country music, early Texas bluesmen, classical and religious music, and various ethnic genres.

The richly diverse ethnic heritage of the Lone Star State has brought to the Southwest a remarkable array of rhythms, instruments, and musical styles that have blended here in unique ways and, in turn, have helped shape the music of the nation and the world. Historian Gary Hartman writes knowingly and lovingly of the Lone Star State’s musical traditions. In the first thorough survey of the vast and complex cultural mosaic that has produced what we know today as “Texas music,” he paints a broad, panoramic view, offers analysis of the origins of and influences on specific genres, profiles key musicians, and provides guidance to additional sources for further information. A musician himself, Hartman draws on both academic and non-academic sources to give a more complete understanding of the state’s remarkable musical history and ethnic community studies with his first-hand knowledge of how important music is as a cultural medium through which human beings communicate information, ideas, emotions, values, and beliefs, and bond together as friends, families, and communities. The History of Texas Music incorporates a selection of well-chosen photographs of both prominent and less-well-known artists and describes not only the ethnic origins of much of Texas music but also the cross-pollination among various genres. Today, the music of Texas—which includes Native American music, gospel, blues, ragtime, swing, jazz, rhythm and blues, conjunto, Tejano, Cajun, zydeco, western swing, honky tonk, polkas, schottsches, rock & roll, rap, hip hop and more—reflects the unique cultural dynamics of the Southwest.

"'Discovering Texas History' is a historiographical reference book that will be invaluable to teachers, students, and researchers of Texas history. Chapter authors are familiar names in Texas history circles--a 'who's who' of high profile historians. Conceived as a follow-up to the award winning (but increasingly dated) 'A Guide the History of Texas' (1988), 'Discovering Texas History' focuses on the major trends in the study of Texas history since 1990. In part one, topical essays address significant historical themes, from race and gender to the arts and urban history. In part two, chronological essays cover the full span of Texas historiography from the Spanish era to the modern day. In each case, the goal is to analyze and summarize the subjects that have captured the attention of professional historians so that 'Discovering Texas History' will take its place as the standard work on the history of Texas history"--

American country music began with a fiddle and the human voice. With the sophistication of recording technology and the techniques of modern merchandising, country music has become a billion-dollar industry. This up-to-date history traces the development of the genre from the Carter Family to Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks. A treasure trove for every country music fan. Photos.

The first authoritative guide to scholarly literature on popular music of the world includes some 8,300 entries covering every non-biographical aspect of the field, including genres, the industry, social and cultural contexts, musical practices, geographical locations, and theory and method. The bibliography serves as an announcement of the forthcoming Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World. Distributed in the US by Books International. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR