Bill Clifton

”[Bill Clifton] is very enlightening regarding the career of an important figure in the popularization and spreading of a more urbane and less localized bluegrass music.“–Ted Lehmann’s Bluegrass, Books, and Brainstorms “A definitive and engaging work… . This book is full of the kind of nuance and detail that only a longtime scholar and enthusiast could produce.”–ARSC Journal “Anyone interested in the history of bluegrass, old-time, and country music will benefit from Bill Malone’s scholarship and will not be disappointed with his biography of Bill Clifton”–Journal of Southern History” “A great read into one of our wonderful musical influences.” –Bluegrass Unlimited “Extremely stimulating. Clifton’s early life, interests, and talents led him into many dramatic situations, which are masterfully described in Malone’s biography. Bill Clifton made a wise choice in tapping Malone as his biographer.”–Fred Bartenstein, editor of Bluegrass Bluesman: A Memoir “A marvelous and wide-ranging biography of Bill Clifton by Bill Malone, the acknowledged dean of country music historians. Malone has added rich detail to our understanding of Clifton’s musical context, particularly in bluegrass.”–Ronald D. Cohen, co-author of Roots of the Revival: American and British Folk Music in the 1950s

Bill C. Malone is professor emeritus of history at Tulane University. His books include Don’t Get above Your Raisin’: Country Music and the Southern Working Class and Country Music, U.S.A.