"Milton Brown is one of the great unsung heroes of American music; and one of the true fathers of western swing. Ginell's biography offers a wealth of new information on Brown and his times and paints a marvelously detailed portrait of the rich Texas music scene of the Depression era." -- Charles K. Wolfe, Middle Tennessee State University
In Milton Brown and the Founding of Western Swing, Cary Ginell vividly portrays memorable personalities, stylistic growth, musical rivalry, touring, recording sessions, business practices, and driving determination. Drawing on a rich array of primary resources, including oral histories, family scrapbooks, and newspaper files, he documents Brown's role in creating Western swing, a musical genre that still resonates in George Strait's recent recording of "Right or Wrong" (originally a Brown hit) and the vibrant energy of the band Asleep at the Wheel.