From Every Stage

Bluegrass, folk, blues, Cajun, Celtic, and country music-these traditional genres have recently fostered a popular explosion of music and dance festivals throughout the United States. From Every Stage: Images of America's Roots Music is a photo narrative, capturing the emotion, excitement, and energy of performances by greats and up-and-comers in the broad spectrum of roots-derived music in America. Stephanie P. Ledgin brings thirty years of writing and photojournalism to this lavishly illustrated book. Two hundred black-and-white and color photographs depict singers, instrumentalists, and dancers in action and in unguarded, spontaneous backstage moments. Folk icons Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, and Odetta grace the stage. The stars of bluegrass shine in photos of Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, David Grisman, Ricky Skaggs, and Bela Fleck. Scottish fiddle wizard Johnny Cunningham, fiery Irish fiddler Eileen Ivers, Piedmont blues guitarist John Jackson, and ""zydeco"" Queen Ida join such legendary artists as John Hartford, Doc Watson, and Jean Ritchie. Country greats Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart, Wynonna Judd, Randy Travis, and comedienne Minnie Pearl perform at prestigious venues. Finally, several interviews with pivotal personalities, all published here for the first time, lend voice and character to this trove of images. An eloquent foreword by CBS News Sunday Morning anchor Charles Osgood, also host of The Osgood File, provides entree to this vibrant panorama. Stephanie P. Ledgin, Piscataway, New Jersey, is a journalist and photographer who has focused on bluegrass and traditional folk music since 1975. She is the author of Homegrown Music: Discovering Bluegrass, and her articles and photographs have appeared in numerous music magazines.