Bluegrass Bluesman: A Memoir (Music in American Life)

A Gem John Sparks As a general rule, I can't say I care for memoirs. They are the least dependable of all historical writings in terms of chronology and objectivity--and yet, they're often vitally important historical records if for no other reason simply as the representation of an individual's own "take" on what he or she experienced. And with the help of some friends, tape recorders, and editors, "Uncle Josh" Graves created a gem of a memoir. I could wish perhaps that the legendary dobroist's interviewers had prompted him more about specifics in an effort to gete him to explain himself fu. "Josh at this best" according to J. Williams. This narrative, distilled from intervews and tapes is entertaining and also captures the beginning of modern blue grass as it emerged from the traditional tunes from the mountains. If you are a fan then this gem is full of quips and stories from Josh Graves who crossed paths with every major performer of this day including Lightning Hopkins. I really enjoyed it for the information and for the style.. Robin Clayton said THE BLUEGRASS DOBRO BOOK OF BEGINNINGS. LOVE FLATT AND SCRUGGS? HERE'S THE STORY OF THE MAN WHO SET THEM APART IN THE BLUEGRASS WORLD.NO DOBRO IN BLUEGRASS UNTIL JOSH GRAVES WROTE THE BOOK.

He also comments on his later career when he played in Lester Flatt's Nashville Grass and the Earl Scruggs Revue and collaborated with the likes of Boz Scaggs, Charlie McCoy, Kenny Baker, Eddie Adcock, Jesse McReynolds, Marty Stuart, Jerry Douglas, Alison Krauss, and his three musical sons. Graves' accounts of daily life on the road through the 1950s and 1960s reveal the band's dedication to musical excellence, Scruggs' leadership, and an often grueling life on the road. A colorful storyteller, Graves brings to life the world of an American troubadour and the mountain culture that he never left behind. Born in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, Josh Graves (1927-2006) is universally acknowledged as the father of the bluegrass Dobro. A pivotal member of the hugely successful bluegrass band Flatt and Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, Dobro pioneer Josh Graves (1927-2006) was a living link between bluegrass music and the blues. In 1997 he was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame.. In Bluegrass Blues

"Mesmerizing especially for lovers of bluegrass."--Booklist