My Black Country

A Journey Through Country Music's Black Past, Present, and Future

By: Alice Randall

Narrated by: Alice Randall

Alice Randall, award-winning professor, songwriter, and author presents “a celebration of all things country music” (Ken Burns) as she reflects on her search for the first family of Black country music.

Country music had brought Alice Randall and her activist mother together and even gave Randall a singular distinction in American music history: she is the first Black woman to cowrite a number one country hit, Trisha Yearwood’s “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl)”. Randall found inspiration and comfort in the sounds and history of the first family of Black country music: DeFord Bailey, Lil Hardin, Ray Charles, Charley Pride, and Herb Jeffries who, together, made up a community of Black Americans rising through hard times to create simple beauty, true joy, and sometimes profound eccentricity.

What emerges in My Black Country is “a delightful, inspirational story of persistence, resistance, and sheer love” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) of this most American of music genres and the radical joy in realizing the power of Black influence on American culture. As country music goes through a fresh renaissance today, with a new wave of Black artists enjoying success, My Black Country is the perfect gift for longtime country fans and a vibrant introduction to a new generation of listeners who previously were not invited to give the genre a chance.

Critic reviews

"No one but Alice Randall could have performed this soothing rapprochement between today’s decidedly White country music and its Black roots. Her engaging performance has vocal gravitas, a deep security about herself, and a potent message: Early country music and much of all popular music today is richer because of the traditions, ethos, and skills brought to this continent by African Americans."

Beautifully historical

I love how she tells us the truth! This is a beautifully told, necessary truth about the mothers of country. Thank you for sharing these.

Great History!

Glad I decided to listen to this book. A lot of knowledge has been shared.

Great history I never knew!

After listening to the book I realize of course black people were involved in country music and it started way way before lîl N’as . I found it very interesting even though I am not a country music fan.

Not so much a indictment of country music but a hey you are missing a piece of evidence here

And this comes from a red state white male, who people would expect review bomb a book like this, and tell people to stay in their lane. In the end the book tells you you can keep your all your country favorites but there is so much more.

Extraordinary!

This is probably the best book I have ever read! I hated for it to end!!!