The Bill Monroe Reader

''Excellent... Especially intriguing are the various interviews conducted with Monroe throughout his career... Editor's comments following each article are well worth the price of admission in themselves. Ewing's years with Monroe and in-depth research add much to the pieces as he corrects misinformation or expounds upon the history.'' -- Jonathan Colcord, Country Standard Time. ''Neatly winnows out the chaff and gathers into a bundle what emerges as a complete mosaic of the artist. '' -- Chuck Hicks, PopMatters.com. ''What Ewing establishes best is that Bill Monroe was a complex human being... The Bill Monroe Reader is a fascinating glimpse inside the emotional armor of this legendary player... I was inspired to go out and buy a box set of Bill Monroe's music and began to rediscover each incredible note.'' -- Steve Romanoski, iBluegrass Magazine ''Much more than a compilation of pieces about Monroe and Bluegrass. Ewing has annotated each with an eye for detail and an extensive knowledge of his subject that would do credit to other first-rate country music researchers.'' -- Andrew Smith, Bluegrass Australia ''[Ewing] neatly winnows out the chaff and gathers into a bundle what emerges as a complete mosaic of the artist... Despite the daunting task of poring over the literally thousands of pages devoted to Monroe, Ewing produces a substantive work that is kept hones by his own incisive editorial notes... Indispensable.'' -- Chuck Hicks, Pop Matters ''The selections Ewing has chosen are good ones. There are newspaper reprints about Bill Monroe the farmer, Bill the ladies' man, Bill the devout and humble Christian and Bill the incredibly hardworking performer for over 60 years.'' -- Sing Out