February 15, 2025 | 1:30 pm @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Esteemed music journalist Geoffrey Himes will discuss and sign copies of his new book "In-Law Country: How Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, and Their Circle Fashioned a New Kind of Country Music, 1968-1985" at theBirthplace of Country Music Museumin historic downtown Bristol Feb. 15 at 1:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but an RSVP is appreciated.
"Geoffrey has coveredBristol Rhythm & Roots Reunionfor a number of national publications over the past several years," said museum Head Curator RenéRodgers. " 'In-Law Country' analyzes the work of a handful of luminaries who influenced country music in a way that hasn't been examined in the past. It's an innovative perspective on how these artists alchemized their sound from the influences of their time, yet with a great reverence for roots music."
"Geoffrey Himes has won numerous awards for writing about music in theWashington Post,Rolling Stone,New York Times,No Depression,Downbeat,Paste, and many other publications since 1975. His book on Bruce Springsteen, "Born in the U.S.A.," was published in 2005. Additionally, Himes has written liner notes for albums by Rosanne Cash, Merle Haggard, Marty Stuartand more.
'In-Law Country: How Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, and Their Circle Fashioned a New Kind of Country Music: 1968-1985,' published by the Country Music Hall of Fame, is more than just another pop music book. Author Himes has identified and named a major movement in country music that has been overlooked in the conventional histories of the genre. Those histories may have to be written differently moving forward. This is a brisk story full of humor, contrarian opinions and excerpts from interviews with the principals: Harris, Cash, Rodney Crowell, Ricky Skaggs, Guy Clark, Brian Ahern, Sharon White, Chris Hillmanand many more. But the focus is not on the usual music-book fodder: drugs, divorcesand business disputes. Unlike most music books, this one focuses on music — how the distinct sound of 'In-Law Country' grew out of California country-rock, bluegrass, Dylanesque folk music and the Carter-Cash Dynasty and evolved to differentiate itself from its predecessors and to find a large enough audience to top the country charts again and again."
For more information and to RSVP for the talk and book signing, visit theEvents pageatBirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.