A Guide to the Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail [With CD (Audio)]

by Joe Wilson

Book Overview

The Crooked Road is a 253-mile stretch of highway in southwestern Virginia. This remote area, which is one of the places that gave birth to American music, has been a musical hotbed for generations. The route includes the Ralph Stanley Museum, the Carter Family Fold, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Museum, the Blue Ridge Music Center, the Rex Theater, the Floyd Country Store, and the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum. Covering the 10 counties...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0895873273
• ISBN13: 9780895873279
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Blair
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.5" x 10.7"

Customer Reviews

Excellent

My younger son (7) and I as well as the rest of the family love the music and intros on the CDs. There is so much good info on the Road and all the places to go, you better go soon, before everyone gets there ahead of you and you can't see / hear the good stuff! The only problem I have is that the volume / equalization of the intros vs. the selections make the narrator difficult to hear when the selections are at a good level. I am looking forward to our next trip so we can have a better idea of where to go with the little bit of time we will have. FYI: the Floyd Country Store has been remodeled, and even though it is more "touristy" now it is so much more comfortable than it was before - it seems to have A/C. I know for a fact that MANY of the locals attend shows there regularly (we have family there). I have also seen some of the people there that are in the photo on the cover of the book.

Crooked Road Guidebook is Collectable!

I have never before seen anything so incredibly chock-full of history of the roots of bluegrass, mountain and old timey music before! The author knows his stuff. The two narrative cd's with music samples are worth way more than the price for the book itself! This is a highly collectable book - you will never come across anything so interesting and enlightning on the roots of music in this great land! Give them as gifts. "Heritage tourism" is very popular and this is one fantastic road trip! The Blue Ridge Mountains -- you can toss a stone in any direction and hit a musician. I have only one word of advise should you follow the Crooked Road... Please do not just go from town to town looking to hear music. You will miss it entirely. The countryside, the fresh air, the people - that is The Crooked Road. I also recommend you start the trail in Rocky Mount Virginia - there is a lovely Bed adn breakfast just one block from the Depot where they have Footlights of the Blue Ridge music every other Friday night.

A Virginian must have, if you love the old time music, this is for you.

I have traveled the world and there is truly no place like home, my home is Virginia and the music I was raised on. There is no doubt that this book and the bonus CD's capture's the very essence of the music and sounds of Virginia and the festival's that we have all come to love and enjoy. This is true, down to the roots Virginia music, played and sung with all the heart and soul that reflects the wide variety of musician's through out our beautiful state. A must have for Virginian's and anyone else that love's and enjoy's the old sounds of music from the past.

A Guide with a Bonus

I found this guide to be delightful. Besides being enjoyably readable, it contained great historical "tidbits" to give it context. The information about the sites was practical and usable. The two CD's that were included in the book had a fun variety of old time and roots music. I have listened to them over and over again in both my car and my home. What a treasure this Guide to the Crooked Road turned out to be!

Could not put it down!

This is a very informative and interesting book. The Cd's are well done. If you want to know more about Bluegrass and Old Time music in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina, this is a "Must Have".