The Big Book of Country Music: A Biographical Encyclopedia by Richard Carlin
Modelled after Bob Santelli's "Big Book of Blues", Carlin's book provides a comprehensive biographical encyclopedia of country music, from its rural roots and pioneers to the talented young newcomers. The book contains over 600 entries, each giving the musician's biography, contributions to the music, and concluding with the "essential listening" of records and CDs one should go to to hear an artist's best work.