Bill C. Malone
Bill C. Malone (August 25, 1934– ) is an American historian specializing in country music and other forms of traditional American music. He is the author of the 1968 book Country Music, U.S.A., the first definitive academic history of country music.[1] Malone is Professor Emeritus of History at Tulane University and now resides in Madison, Wisconsin.[2]
Malone was born on a cotton-growing tenant farm 20 miles west of Tyler, Texas in 1934 and grew up with music as "a constant companion".[3] After studying at community college, he enrolled in the University of Texas in 1956 and became a well-known singer in the Austin area, due in part to his encyclopedic repertoire of "hillbilly" songs he learned growing up.[3] He performed at Threadgill's Bar in Austin and completed his Master's degree[3]. He was pleased when his faculty advisor suggested he write his doctoral dissertation on something he loved: "hillbilly", i.e., country, music.[3] His 1965 dissertation was published in 1968 as Country Music, U.S.A.[3]
Malone was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1984 to assist his research in U.S. history.[4] In 2008, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for American Music.[5]
Malone hosts a weekly radio show, "Back to the Country", on WORT–FM community radio in Madison, and performs country music with his wife, Bobbie Malone, playing mandolin and guitar.[6]
Selected publications
- An early history of Austin, Texas, 1839-1861 (1958) University of Texas, pp.272, googlebooks
- Country Music, U.S.A. (1968; revised edition 1984; 2nd revised, annotated edition 2002) University of Texas Press, pp.628, ISBN 0292752628
- Southern Music/American Music (co-author with David Stricklin) (1979; 2nd, illustrated, revised edition 2003) University Press of Kentucky, pp.236, ISBN 081319055X
- Singing Cowboys and Musical Mountaineers: Southern Culture and the Roots of Country Music (1993) University of Georgia Press, pp.168, ISBN 0820325511
- Don't Get Above Your Raisin': Country Music and the Southern Working Class (2002) University of Illinois Press, pp.392, ISBN 0252026780
- Working Girl Blues: The Life and Music of Hazel Dickens (co-author with Hazel Dickens) (2008) University of Illinois Press, pp.102, ISBN 0252075498
- Music from the True Vine: Mike Seeger's Life and Musical Journey (2011) UNC Press Books, pp.240, ISBN 0807835102
References
- ^ Book review of Country Music, U.S.A. at This is Texas Music website, January 3, 2005. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
- ^ Moe, Doug. "For Malone, A Series of Noteworthy Events", at madison.com. April 27, 2008. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
- ^ a b c d e Malone, Bill C. "Country Music Scholar", video interview with Malone Southern Spaces, January 20, 2006. Accessed 2011-09-18.
- ^ John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Fellowship Awards 1984 searchable list. Accessed 2011-09-18.
- ^ "About the author" at googlebooks, CM,USA. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
- ^ Bill C. Malone's facebook page Accessed 2011-09-18.
External Links
- "Country Music Scholar", October 2005 video interview with Malone in Southern Spaces, published by Emory University Libraries, January 20, 2006. Accessed 2011-09-18.