This series of biographical profiles shines a spotlight on that special place “Where the West meets the Guitar.” From Gene Autry and Roy Rogers to contemporary artists like Michael Murphy, Red Steagall, Don Edwards and Riders in the Sky, many entertainers have performed music of the West, a genre separate from mainstream country music and yet an important part of the country music heritage. Once called “Country and Western,” it is now described as “Country or Western.” Though much has been written about “Country,” very little has been written about “Western”—until now.
Featured are a number of photos of the top stars in Western music, past and present. Also included is an extensive bibliography of works related to the Western music field.

Don Cusic is professor of music business at the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Don Cusic
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 284
Bibliographic Info: 35 photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6314-5
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8605-2
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      v
Preface      1
Introduction: Cowboys and Country Music      5

1. Roundin’ Up Radio      11
2. Gene Autry and The Phantom Empire      18
3. The Big Three: Gene, Roy and the Sons of the Pioneers      25
4. Dale Evans, Queen of the West      33
5. Girls of the Golden West      39
6. Louise Massey and the Westerners      41
7. Patsy Montana      44
8. Ray Whitley      47
9. Guitars, Cowboys and Country Music      50
10. Andy Parker and the Plainsmen      54
11. Foy Willing and Riders of the Purple Sage      56
12. Jimmy Wakely      60
13. Johnny Bond      65
14. Rosalie Allen      72
15. Cindy Walker      73
16. Marilyn Tuttle      75
17. Smiley Burnette      79
18. Stuart Hamblen      82
19. Tex Ritter      86
20. Wesley Tuttle      89
21. Monte Hale      94
22. Rex Allen      97
23. John Wayne      100
24. Bob Wills, King of Western Swing      108
25. Bing Crosby and Country Music      112
26. Riders In The Sky      114
27. Flying W Wranglers      119
28. Michael Martin Murphey      121
29. Ray Price      129
30. Marty Robbins      142
31. Johnny Cash      146
32. Johnny Western      154
33. Red Steagall      160
34. Don Edwards      164
35. Rex Allen Jr.      170
36. Lynn Anderson      176
37. Ian Tyson      181
38. Sons of the San Joaquin      187
39. Asleep at the Wheel      193
40. Wylie and the Wild West      197
41. R.W. Hampton, Riding for His Own Brand      202
42. Waddie Mitchell, Cowboy Poet      209
43. Chris LeDoux      216
44. George Strait      218
45. Country Music, Cowboys and the West      224
46. The West on the Music Charts      232

Bibliography      251
Index      257