Bluegrass music is an original characterization, simply called a 'representation, ' of traditional Appalachian music in its social form.

In the twentieth century, Appalachian migrants seeking economic opportunities relocated to southwestern Ohio, bringing their music with them. Between 1947 and 1989, they created an internationally renowned capital for the thriving bluegrass music genre, centered on the industrial region of Cincinnati, Dayton, Hamilton, Middletown, and Springfield. Fred Bartenstein and Curtis W. Ellison edit a collection of eyewitness narratives and in-depth analyses that explore southwestern Ohio’s bluegrass musicians, radio broadcasters, recording studios, record labels, and performance venues, along with the music’s contributions to religious activities, community development, and public education. As the bluegrass scene grew, southwestern Ohio's distinctive sounds reached new fans and influenced those everywhere who continue to play, produce, and love roots music. Revelatory and multifaceted, Industrial Strength Bluegrass shares the inspiring story of a bluegrass hotbed and the people who created it. Contributors: Fred Bartenstein, Curtis W. Ellison, Jon Hartley Fox, Rick Good, Lily Isaacs, Ben Krakauer, Mac McDivitt, Nathan McGee, Daniel Mullins, Joe Mullins, Larry Nager, Phillip J. Obermiller, Bobby Osborne, and Neil V. Rosenberg.

Created by legendary Bill Monroe of Kentucky and made famous by his Blue Grass Boys, bluegrass has been sweeping musicians and audiences off their feet since 1939. This lively and authoritative guide covers: all the important sounds from traditional Monroe-style bluegrass, jazz-flavoured northern 'newgrass', and Nashville-influenced country grass to the distinctive sounds of Japanese and European bands; famous groups, instrumentalists, and vocalists; women blue grassers; with insider anecdotes, resource listings, the lowdown on bluegrass festivals, and more than 500 recommendations for listening.

The Bluegrass Picker's Tune Book is a must for all bluegrass pickers! Included are the melody line and chords to over two hundred favorite gospel and bluegrass songs. Detailed information about the origin and performers is given for each song as well as the history and development of the bluegrass genre. the lyrics are large and easy to read during a performance.

A chronological guide to bluegrass music that describes and traces the development of the musical genre.

This is a portrayal of the breadth and depth of bluegrass, from its fans and followers to its performers - including Bill Monroe, 'the father of Bluegrass music' - in a readable and panoramic photo-documentary of an American form of popular music.