Hillbilly Hollywood: The Origins of Country & Western Style

Rating:
Summary: Does Hillbilliness Proud
Review: Debby Bull's HILLBILLY HOLLYWOOD is an astonishing book. Her writing is never tainted by nostalgia. It's fresh, original and cleverly surmised. The physical book is about as extravagant as Nudie's glorious Western regalia--complete with rhinestones on the cover. It's a tribute to a strange phenomenon--the gone, but not forgotten completely, country-western artists of the '40s who were (regrettably) bumped from the spotlight by rock 'n roll and leftist politics. It's great to see the spirit of this era so well communicated. As a native born hillbilly and the author of THE BEAUTIFUL AND ENDURING OZARKS and co-author with my wife Crystal of 3 books on Branson (often dubbed "the hillbilly Las Vegas") I feel credentialed to endorse this book. I'm going to order a six-pack later in the year for Christmas presents. I suspect there is a bunch of closet hillbillies out there that will get a real kick from this neat book.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful in Every Way.
Review: Debby Bulls book "Hillbilly Hollywood" gives us a great look at the almost-forgotten flashy country and western artists of radio and early western movies. We get a thorough insiders look at the glitz and the true 'ART' of rhinestone cowboy and cowgirl wear by the country artists of the '40's and 50's. There are wonderful color images and historical photos of my favorite country legends. The book itself would be at home on Elvis's coffee table. Yum! Yum! This book is a "Five Star" ten course feast for the eyes and soul for us wannabe cowboy and cowgirl types. A true collectors item.


Rating:
Summary: Hillbilly HEAVEN!!!!
Review: I'm a very hard girl to buy for (and a music snob to boot)but my sweetheart did a very good thing when he purchased Hillbilly Hollywood for me as an early Valentine's Day gift!
It's just GORGEOUS,well-written,and chock-full of stunning color images of several historic pieces of country couture including rare photos of artists that I just adore like Johnny Cash,The Flying Burritto Bros.,and (gasp!) Rockabilly Goddess CHARLENE ARTHUR!!!
It's very difficult these days to find any information on the designers Nudie and Manuel but this book covers it ALL!!!
SO SATISFYING!!!
Always,
Grey DeLisle (wife of Murry Hammond:)



Rating:
Summary: beauty & brains & cool, cool, cool
Review: The swoon-inducing, jaw-dropping photo of young Johnny Cash at the Hollywood Bowl alone is worth the price of this book. But don't just look at the beautiful pictures (and there are many) - read the words. Well-written, insightful, and often funny, the stories from the mouths of the stars sparkle brighter than the rhinestones on the cover. Hillbilly Hollywood motivated me to search out and find the music of artists unfamiliar to me before, and I will forever be grateful to the author for introducing me to the wild brilliance of the almost-forgotten Maddox Bros. & Rose, and others like them. This is the perfect book for anyone who loves music, whether it be country-western, punk rock, or anything in between.

Rating:
Summary: Great book, for cowboy and cowgirls
Review: Who are into western wear.
I'm a cowgirl living in The Netherlands and books about westernwear are hard to find. 100 years of western wear by Tyler Beard was the one I found in Holland. Also a great book!!
Tyler send Hillbilly Hollywood to me, and I love every page of it! It's about stars and their love for the garb.