Country Bob
Dylan and Country Music
Format:Hardback
Publisher:University Press of Mississippi
Published:7th Oct '26
£79.00
Supplier delay - available to order, but may take longer than usual.
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£18.99(9781496864406)
As one of the most iconic American singer-songwriters in history, Bob Dylan has been a major figure in music and one of the best-selling artists for over sixty years. Coming out of the Greenwich folk scene in the 1960s, Dylan’s music has evolved over the years and defies musical genres. While countless books have been written about Dylan, none have focused on how country music shaped his songwriting, performance style, and musical evolution.
From his earliest years, Dylan was drawn to the country sounds he heard on the radio and on records. As he once said, Hank Williams was his first musical hero. Music historian Don Cusic traces this deep connection from Dylan’s childhood through his folk years, his Nashville recordings, and into his later work—revealing how country music has remained a consistent thread throughout Dylan's long and restless career.
Now in his eighties and still performing, Dylan continues to draw from the well of country music, learning new songs and incorporating them into his live sets and recordings. This book offers fresh insight into Dylan’s artistry by examining the genre that has inspired and sustained him for decades.
"No one understands the intersection of country music and culture better than Don Cusic, and here he takes us on a fascinating journey linking this iteration of our roots music with the greatest of all American songwriters." - Ken Burns, filmmaker
"Bob Dylan was my gateway drug to country music. I wanted to steer clear of country music, but as a devotee of Dylan, he showed me country was cool. This gripping story takes you along for that ride." - Mickey Raphael, member of Willie Nelson’s band, the Family
"Don Cusic has written a book so detailed in its description and recounting of Bob Dylan’s recording career that one gets the feeling they are there in the studios and homes where it all took place! If you are a fan of Dylan’s music, it’s a must-read. Couldn’t put it down!" - Ray Benson, Asleep at the Wheel
"Dylan opened a lot of doors for Nashville that seemed to be closed before he recorded Blonde on Blonde. After that, the folk rock music community jumped on the idea of recording in Nashville. It was almost like Dylan gave Nashville his stamp of approval. We here in Nashville are so glad that he did." - Charlie McCoy, studio musician
"In 1997, BR5-49 opened for Bob Dylan’s North American Tour. Each night, after our performance, his crew would set up chairs in the wings for us to sit and watch. They would put out a cooler of beer, and we’d enjoy the show. One night, one of the crew guys named Red walked up and looked at us, all sitting in a row, wearing our cowboy outfits. He said, ‘It looks like free haircut night at the Grand Ole Opry.’" - Smilin’ Jay McDowell, BR5-49
ISBN: 9781496864390
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
222 pages