Virginia's Blues, Country, and Gospel Records, 1902-1943

During the years before World War II, hundreds of traditional musicians were sought out by commercial record companies, brought to New York or into local-often makeshift-studios, to cut recordings that would be marketed as "e;race"e; and "e;hillbilly"e; music. Virginia was home to scores of these performers, several of whom were to become internationally known. Among them were the Carter Family, t...