Now in its sixth decade, country music studies is a thriving field of inquiry involving scholars working in the fields of American history, folklore, sociology, anthropology, musicology, ethnomusicology, cultural studies, and geography, among many others. Covering issues of historiography and practice as well as the ways in which the genre interacts with media and social concerns such as class, gender, and sexuality, The Oxford Handbook of Country Music interrogates prevailing narratives, explores significant lacunae in the current literature, and provides guidance for future research. More than simply treating issues that have emerged within this subfield, The Oxford Handbook of Country Music works to connect to broader discourses within the various fields that inform country music studies in an effort to strengthen the area's interdisciplinarity. Drawing upon the expertise of leading and emerging scholars, this Handbook presents an introduction into the historiographical narratives and methodological issues that have emerged in country music studies' first half-century.
Review
It might seem surprising that a book on country music is now part of the scholarly 'Oxford Handbooks' series. However, the nature of this book demonstrates that it clearly belongs there. Potential readers might not know what to expect from such a title, but they will find that it provides an informative literature review summarizing the state of research for country music. In his introduction, Stimeling (West Virginia Univ.) states that more thorough research has been done about the early history of country music and that scholarly coverage of its more recent history is marginal compared to that done on rock, pop, and jazz. Stimeling has assembled essays from an impressive group of scholars not only in music but also in fields such as history and folklore. They provide thought-provoking material, much of which has insightful an interdisciplinary perspective. This book is a welcome contribution to serious research on country music. ― D. Arnold, University of North Texas, Choice --This text refers to the paperback edition.
About the Author
Travis D. Stimeling is Associate Professor of Musicology and Director of the Bluegrass and Old-Time Bands at West Virginia University. He is the author or editor of several books, including Songwriting in Contemporary West Virginia: Profiles and Reflections (2018), Fifty Cents and a Box Top: The Creative Life of Nashville Session Musician Charlie McCoy (2017), The Oxford Handbook of Country Music (2017), The Country Music Reader (OUP, 2015), Cosmic Cowboys and New Hicks: The Countercultural Sounds of Austin's Progressive Country Music Scene (OUP, 2011), and Nashville Cats: Record Production in Music City (OUP, May 2020). He served as a Senior Editor for The Grove Dictionary of American Music, 2nd ed. (OUP, 2013), and he currently serves as the book review editor for the Journal of the Society for American Music and as series editor for West Virginia University Press's Sounding Appalachia series. He also serves on the board of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
