"In The Bluegrass Reader, Thomas Goldsmith joins his insights as a journalist with a lifetime of experience in bluegrass to capture the full story of this music. Inspired by the question "What articles about bluegrass would you want to have with you on a desert island?" he assembled a fun-to-read collection that brings together a wide range of the very best in bluegrass writing." "Goldsmith's substantial introduction describes and traces the development of the music from its origins in Anglo-American folk tradition, overlaid with African American influences, to the breakout popularity of Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, and the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. He introduces each selection with a wealth of additional information, making The Bluegrass Reader invaluable for new fans of the music as well as for its lifetime devotees."--BOOK JACKET.