Definitive Country: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Country Music

Barry McCloud's aptly named Definitive Country: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Country Music and Its Performers starts with Cajun accordionist Nathan Abshire and ends with Tennessee fiddler Jess Young. Between them are sandwiched Willie Nelson, Lefty Frizzell, the Grand Ole Opry, Garth Brooks, Patsy Cline, Hee Haw, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Daniels, the Texas Playboys, BMI and lots of people with names like Curly, Red, Fiddlin' Frenchie, Thumbs, Mother Maybelle, Ramblin' Jack, Kinky, Woody, Skeets, Gram and plain old Roy, Bill and Joe. Each performer's description includes stats and recommended albums, and many include photos. On top of that McCloud includes listings of the winners of some 40 awards; all gold and platinum country winners here and in Canada; addresses for agents, artists' managers, record companies, music publishers, publicists, fan clubs; and listings of germane festivals, radio stations and movies. (Perigee, $20 ISBN 0-399-521-44-5; cloth $40 -518-90-8)