"Covers the entire history of Billboard magazine's Country "Records"/"Singles"/"Songs" charts from 1944-2012, listing nearly 20,000 charted hits and nearly 2,600 artists."--P. 7.

Reviews and rates the best recordings of country artists and groups, provides biographies of the artists, and charts the evolution of country music

Earthy, sexy, and vivacious, the life of beloved country singer, Patsy Cline, who soared from obscurity to international fame to tragic death in just thirty short years, is explored in colorful and poignant detail. An innovator?and even a hell-raiser?Cline broke all the boys' club barriers of Nashville's music business in the 1950s and brought a new Nashville sound to the nation with her pop hits and torch ballads like ?Walking After Midnight," ?I Fall to Pieces? and "Crazy." She is the subject of a major Hollywood movie and countless articles, and her albums are still selling 45 years after her death. Ellis Nassour was the very first to write about Cline and did so with the cooperation of the stars who knew and loved her?including Jimmy Dean, Jan Howard, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Roger Miller, Dottie West, and Faron Young. He was the only writer to interview Cline's mother and husbands. This updated edition features not only a complete discography and a host of never-before-published photographs, but includes an afterword that details controversial claims about her birth, the battle between Cline's siblings for her possessions, the amazing influence Cline had on a new generation of singers and, in Cline's own words from letters to a devoted friend, her excitement as her career soared to new heights and her marriage descended to new depths.

Country music—with its candid lyrics about everyday fears, frustrations, desires, and dilemmas—has arguably become the most popular style of music in the world: In 1998 superstar Garth Brooks was the biggest-selling solo performer in the history of music, second only in artist status to the Beatles. Country Music chronicles the rich history of the genre, from its early days in the 1920s to the multimillion-dollar industry of the present. Covering the music by decade from its birth in 1922 (when it first became a commercial category) to 1950, and by year from 1950 to 1997, this book includes facts about hundreds of country legends, as well as crossover artists like Elvis Presley, Linda Ronstadt, John Denver, and K.D. Lang. It also features: essays on the significant developments of each year; the most important records; debut artists; lists of honors (Grammys, Gold and Platinum sales, Country Music Association Awards, and Academy of Country Music Awards); milestones of noteworthy events; sidebars with artist biographies and interesting anecdotes; and over 200 rare photos, album covers, and sheet music. Now updated through 1997, this comprehensive reference presents invaluable information about a truly American phenomenon.

(Book). An all-encompassing, artist-by-artist listing of every artist and song that's made Billboard 's "Hot Country Songs" charts. Over 2,400 country artists and over 19,000 songs represent 64 years of country chart hits! Complete chart data shows peak position and total chart weeks. Indicates awards that the song won, as well as a bio on every artist listed. A special section includes an alphabetical song title section and handy list of Top Artists, Top Hits and Record Breakers.

(Fake Book). More than 100 country favorites all in the key of C, arranged with simplified harmonies and melodies and complete lyrics: All My Ex's Live in Texas * Blue * Breathe * Cold, Cold Heart * Crazy * Daddy Sang Bass * Forever and Ever, Amen * Friends in Low Places * The Gambler * God Bless the U.S.A. * He Stopped Loving Her Today * Here You Come Again * I Fall to Pieces * I Love a Rainy Night * Jolene * Okie from Muskogee * Ring of Fire * Tennessee Waltz * Walkin' After Midnight * You Decorated My Life * Your Cheatin' Heart * and many more.

Charlie O'Shields is the creator of Doodlewash®, founder of World Watercolor Month in July, and host of the Sketching Stuff podcast. Every single day, for over three years, he created a watercolor illustration and wrote a short essay about whatever came to mind that day and posted it on his blog. These are some of the collected favorites along with some brand new musings. With over 180 illustrations, this book is part personal memoir and sometimes just a randomly fun romp through the sillier bits of this crazy world we all inhabit. Written to take on the impossible task of inspiring creativity, unleashing your inner child, and instilling hope, it will, at the very least, make you smile and touch your heart.