Honky-Tonk Gospel: The Story of Sin and Salvation in Country Music

by Gene Edward Veith Jr. and Thomas L. Wilmeth

Provides Christian cultural analysis of the spiritual tensions and differing values within country music by examining its history, selected artists, and themes.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801063558
• ISBN13: 9780801063558
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group (MI)
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Redemptive nature of Hank Williams

If any person immediately condemns Hank Williams, Sr. as a pagan, heathen, and non-Christian, he or she would do well to look at this book. This work shows that there was more of the grace of God involved in Williams' life than many give him credit for. The authors show how Williams deliberately included Gospel songs and recorded them in disregard of financial benefit. There was more to Hank than one might realize.

Great Book to Get Started

This book was a very helpful beginning to understanding the relationship of country gospel to both country and gospel music. It brings up a lot of major players that gave me a quick glance at where they fit in and where to begin searching if I wanted more info. From the Carter Family to the Gospel influence in more contemporary County, this book was a quick and enjoyable overview.

Not an active Country Music Fan, This is Good

I like country, just don't spend much time actively in it. This treatment of the subject is thorough and easy to follow in its points. Written from a solid Christian perspective, the authors make the consistent point that country has as its roots a Christian, gospel orientation.While such orientation does not predominate, it is there and has always been there. Now, contemporary country fights the battle with other venues of the pop culture. Amazing the story of Alan Jackson at the CMC awards. Right on Alan. I knew this man was a winner!One learns much about the real world from country music. Nothing is hidden in the lyrics of this music, it tells it like it is. People can relate to it. It's not all the hype of pop. Until, Garth et al started letting it seep in.Suggest also Mark Zwonitzer's excellent book on the Carter Family where he shows how the Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis types cut their musical teeth on Country Gospel, then lost it to the commercialism.What we sell our souls for! This book exposes that while admirably detailing how traditional country supports classic Christian values. Well done and great read!

Entertaining and Enlightening

While I'm not a real fan of country music myself, I did find this book to be a great read. Country music may be the last vestige of popular American culture that still has Christian underpinings but it has also begun to drift as it is swallowed up by the "no-brow" culture of marketing. The authors do seem to have some trouble with facts (Bristol is in Virginia and Tennessee not Kentucky and the relationship between Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart) but other than a few minor points the thesis still holds up.