Country Music Goes To War

by Charles K. Wolfe (Editor)

Examines the output of country musicians responding to America's large-scale confrontations in recent history--from World War II through the conflicts in the Persian Gulf--and addresses the ways in which country songs and artists have energized public discourse, captured hearts, and inspired millions of minds.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History

250 pages, Hardcover

First published January 21, 2005

About the author

Charles K. Wolfe was a scholar of American vernacular music and a professor of English at Middle Tennessee State University.

Reviews

[Zach Fulbright]

Don't let the title throw you, country music and war, patriotism, nostalgia, religion and rebellion have all been interconnected since Jimmie Rodgers started strumming his guitar in the early twentieth century.

Country music as a genre isn't going to war; although that's what the title suggests. It's really just a colorful play on words.

This book is a collection of essays on a variety of these topics that are interesting and informative, and, despite their general academic voice, a pleasure to read.

As with most titles by Charles Wolfe, this one doesn't let you down; even though Wolf is the editor. We do see some papers by some authors we should expect to find in a book like this.

It would have been nice to see Wolfe include more on war and Country music in general -- as the title suggests -- but that is not what this is; it's a collection of papers covering the relationship between country music and the above listed themes.

If this sounds like something you may be interested in, pick it up and give it a read. I'm certainly glad I did.