Country Soul

In the sound of the 1960s and 1970s, nothing symbolized the rift between black and white America better than the seemingly divided genres of country and soul. Yet the music emerged from the same songwriters, musicians, and producers in the recording studios of Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee, and Muscle Shoals, Alabama--what Charles L. Hughes calls the "country-soul triangle." In legendary studios like Stax and FAME, integrated groups of musicians like Booker T. and the MGs and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section produced music that both challenged and reconfirmed racial divisions in the United States. Working with artists from Aretha Franklin to Willie Nelson, these musicians became crucial contributors to the era's popular music and internationally recognized symbols of American racial politics in the turbulent years of civil rights protests, Black Power, and white backlash. Hughes offers a provocative reinterpretation of this key moment in American popular music and challenges the conventional wisdom about the racial politics of southern studios and the music that emerged from them. Drawing on interviews and rarely used archives, Hughes brings to life the daily world of session musicians, producers, and songwriters at the heart of the country and soul scenes. In doing so, he shows how the country-soul triangle gave birth to new ways of thinking about music, race, labor, and the South in this pivotal period.

Is the path ahead unclear? Does life feel uncertain and full of worry and anxiety? The pages of Country Soul are filled with Scripture, stories, takeaways, and encouragement that will get your faith moving. Like many of us, Cara Whitney and her husband, Dan (Larry the Cable Guy), have experienced mountaintops and valleys in life. The good news they discovered along the way is that we don't have to go it alone. God's Word guides our steps, leading us through the ups and downs of our faith journey. This book is filled with heartwarming stories--30 compelling journeys of faith about men and women from all walks of life who have turned heartaches into hope and setbacks into victory. Most of the stories are drawn from ordinary everyday folks just like you: A Nebraska rancher who survived cancer and heart disease . . . and is now telling others how to break free from a far worse disease: sin A wounded warrior who found healing in Christ . . . not to mention a brand-new life! A coal miner's daughter who met Jesus in a West Virginia holler . . . and is committed to following Him to the ends of the earth With full-color color photos, a presentation page, and a ribbon marker, Country Soul is a thoughtful gift for: Horse lovers Believers who need a little faith lift Birthdays, Christmas, Mother's Day, and Father's Day Friends and loved ones going through difficult times Refresh your soul as you rediscover that no matter how hard life gets, you can trust God. Readers of Country Soul will also enjoy Cara Whitney's previous books, Unbridled Faith and Fields of Grace.

Monsignor Felix Newton Pitt (1894-1971) was a towering figure in the history of Catholic education in the US, and this definitive biography gives a shining example of an individual who dedicated his life in service of his faith and left behind an enduring legacy. The book traces Pitts journey from his humble beginning as a young missionary of the 1920s in rural Kentucky to his career as an innovative educator in Louisville, where he established the Catholic elementary school system that became a nationwide model for parochial education that properly educated and catechized the youth, including students with special needs. Along the way, Father Pitt exerted an influence beyond his devoted flock as an engaging civic leader in the greater community, in an era of bigotry when the Catholic Church was often under attack. As a panelist on the popular TV program, The Moral Side of the News, Father Pitt was a pioneer of ecumenical broadcasting and a guiding force of church growth and stability during years of cultural upheaval. This biography bears the fruit of exhaustive research, a true labor of love. Lavishly illustrated with photos of the people and places it documents, the book does double duty as church and family history joined and celebrated in one priests life story. It features extensive, eloquent excerpts from Father Pitts diaries and letters and published articles that reveal the progress of one mans spiritual pilgrimage, as he overcomes doubts from within and obstacles from without. It is an inspiring journey of faith and perseverance, where a gifted young man follows his true calling by taking strength from God and his devoted mother. It will appeal not only to present-day Catholic educators and those who may be discerning a religious vocation, but to any reader who believes in a higher guiding light in ones life and who holds dear the importance of family in our society.

"Instead of seeing black music as a mere reflection of mass struggle, Ward argues that [rhythm and blues] ... formed a crucial public arena for battles over civil rights, racial identity, indidivual pride, and economic empowerment."--Back cover.

Struggling for the Soul of Our Country is a book in search of answers: what does it mean to struggle for the soul of a country and how does the life of citizenship influence our common future? While discussing major cultural and political issues, Browning addresses the deeper questions haunting many of our citizens and reflects upon the spiritual dimension of the crises America faces today. With titles such as "American Global Hegemony vs. the Quest for a New Humanity," "Why I Am a Christian Socialist," and "American Dystopia" these essays examine aspects of American political and cultural life in an effort to shed light on the pathologies that Browning claims undermine the health of the country's soul. This book invites the reader to examine the development of America as a militaristic empire, initiating multiple wars abroad, including a disastrous war in Iraq, and fostering at home a culture of violence that led to the assassination of an American president, John F. Kennedy, by agents of the US government.

This latest collection of Chicken Soup for the Soul comes to readers from the heartland, the Grand Ole Opry and the Contry Music Capital of the World. This treasury identifies the common threads that weave the tapestry of the human spirit- the traditions of family and faith at the heart of America.

Readers will get an inside look at the personal stories behind their favorite country songs as songwriters get up close and personal with exclusive stories about how and why they wrote them. Songs tell a story, and now many of country music’s most famous singers and songwriters are sharing more of the story! These artists reveal the inspiration, influence, and background, and when and why they wrote their most famous songs, in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Country Music. Book includes great photos of the songwriters and lyrics of many of the songs. A great gift for anyone who loves country music!

White Soul is an examination of the social, political, and religious foundations that bring rural and urban working-class white people and country music together as a dominant force in 20th century American music. An elitism of the upper class is named, examined, and debunked--with particular focus on the cultural values of working-class people and the "trashy" church that is preferred.