This memoir is the story of growing-up in a Norwegian-American family in the hard times that followed the great depression of 1929. It is much more than that, however, for it describes the many, often bewildering, changes in the relationship of a boy with his father. Alternating between the ecstatic heights of hero-worship and the heart-breaking disappointment that each disclosure of his father's very human faults brings about, the boy finds solace in books, fantasy, and trains. As he grows into adulthood, he learns to appreciate the difficult circumstances that constrict his parents' lives and their ways of surmounting them. In scenes both vigorous and tender, he experiences his father's willingness to sacrifice, materially as well as emotionally, in order to further his son's chances in life.

This is a book for genuine banjo lovers. Full of beautiful photos and hand-sketched tabs, this highly acclaimed text presents a systematic method for playing the unique "frailing" banjo style. "Old-time mountain banjo" is taught with clarity and expertise. In tablature only. the compact disc is in split-track format, allowing the student to play along with the old-time string band or the frailing banjo parts. It also includes Eric Muller's concise teaching.

Bill Bay asked me to write a follow up book to my last book, "The Bluegrass Pickers Tune Book (20233). If you like Bluegrass music (232 songs) I'd recommend getting that book to add to your collection. the focus of this book, the Acoustic Source Book is on roots and old-time music. the book is focused on the time period from late 1800's until 1940's. There are a few songs from the Bluegrass Book that were too important to be left out. I decided not to use any patriotic and Christmas songs and came up with a list of about 400 songs which eventually was cut down to over 200. During the late 1800's and early 1900's there was an important evolution in American music; the birth of jazz, ragtime, and blues. This was also the period of the phonograph and early commercial recordings. Music from the Minstrel period as well as traditional songs were used as staple for the roots musicians. In the early 1900's there were rags, blues, gospel, Tin-Pan Alley, jug band, spiritual, old-time country and popular songs. I've tried to include some of the well-known songs from every genre to give you a big slice of Americana. There are some great songs that are popular roots, bluegrass and old-time songs today that have never been published. There are also great songs that are not well known that should be played and enjoyed.Richard Matteson with Kara Pleasants Wildwood Flower http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO9Xde2bdwA Paul & Silas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv5Tmaff9HQ Meet Me By the Moonlight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gwzCZfnG64 Scarborough Fair http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbxMlz_DlI Water is Wide http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-hZkxWs8gs Richard Matteson with Jessica KasterBarbara Allen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX6PE80W4Pw In the Pines http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtOL9Id5TW4 Hop Along Peter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5kAzSQ__rU Ain't Gonna Lay my Armor Down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsBYRuT2_FU

Essays by various authors detailing the richness of music that has emanated from Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee and Kentucky since the 1700's.