on Coy and Sara’s relationship, 159, 222–23
on life at Eck and Maybelle’s house, 155–56
marriage of, 219
Maybelle’s death and, 393, 394
move west of, 160–61, 218–20
Bays, Vernon, 17–18, 32, 56, 57, 154, 158, 195, 241
Bays, Will, 12, 30, 124
Bays, William Anderson, 20
Bays, William H., 21–22, 24
Bean, Roy, 197
“Bear Creek Blues,” 242
Bear Family Records, 4
Benet, Stephen Vincent, 89
Berliner, Emile, 85
Best of the Carter Family, 353
Bible Questions and Answers, 274
Billboard charts, 260
“Birds Were Singing of You, The,” 133
Bisbee, Jasper E., 88
“Black Mountain Rag,” 354, 370
black musicians:
A.P. and, 127–29, 131–38
Peer and, 83, 84, 87
Pentecostalism and, 133–36
Blanchard, Lowell, 265, 267
Blood, Sweat & Tears, 348
Bluebird, 321
“Bluebird Island,” 290
“Blue Doll,” 311–12
“Blue Moon of Kentucky,” 306, 307
“Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, The,” 271
blues, 127–28, 132–33, 137–38, 184, 241–42
“Blue Yodel,” 140
Boggs, Dock, 139
Bond, L. H., 180
Borglum, Gutzon, 234
Bourne, Sol, 176
Bowman, Becky, 299–306, 308, 309, 312, 336, 344–45
as fill-in for Carter Sisters, 299–300, 301
Bowman, Claudine “Mommy,” 299
Bowman, Emily, 299
“Boy Named Sue, A,” 364
Bradford, Perry, 84
Bradley, Harold, 354
Bradley, Owen, 335
Brasfield, Rod, 308
Briar, 339
Bright, Lindsay, 189
Brinkley, “Doctor” John Romulus, 1–4, 5, 10, 197–213, 200, 215, 241
background of, 201–3, 207
border-radio station of, 3–4, 197, 209–18
gubernatorial campaign of, 3, 208–9
home of, 198–99, 222
impotence treatments of, 2, 203–8, 210–13
investigations into, 206–7, 212, 213
radio broadcasts of, 203–12
success of, 206–7
Brinkley, Johnny Boy, 212, 213
Brinkley, Minnie, 204, 210
Bristol News Bulletin, 80, 94
Brockman, Polk, 89–90, 92, 139
Brunswick, 76–77
Bryant, Boudleaux, 271
Bryant, Felice, 271
“Buddies in the Saddle,” 241
Burns, Aitchee, 266
Burns, Kenneth, 268
Bush, Ethyl, 40
Cadence, 311
“Canned Heat,” 279
“Cannonball, The,” 132
“Cannonball Blues,” 288, 344
Canteen Woogie, 254
Carson, Fiddlin’ John, 75, 87–90, 92
Carson, Gerald, 199
Carter, Alvin Pleasant Delaney (A.P.), 25–36, 46–53, 57–63, 76–79, 95–250, 269
bandstand built by, 325–26, 330
birth of, 25
after Carter Family breakup, 9, 250, 315–33
Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle and, 257, 273–74
childhood of, 16–17, 18, 26–33
as church singer, 30, 31, 37–38
courtship and wedding of, 35–36, 38, 46–49, 50
death and burial of, 331–33, 335, 384, 397
divorce of, 180–81
employment of, 28, 33–36, 57–59, 76
family history of, 19–22
as farmer, 33, 34, 47, 124–25, 156, 172–73
as father, 147, 171
final days of, 329–33
generosity of, 322–23
guitar playing attempted by, 146
homes of, 47–48, 51–53, 110–12, 125, 156, 174, 240, 241, 317, 319
Janette’s marriage and, 238–40
land bought by, 240, 326
musical abilities of, 29–30, 31, 37–38
music seen as way to make money by, 62–63, 76–79, 103
old songs valued by, 77
onstage presence of, 114, 115
personality and demeanor of, 27–29, 38, 103, 146–47, 187–88, 316, 318–19, 322–23, 326
photographs of, xiv, 12, 48–49, 50, 107, 126, 127, 244, 245, 314
physical appearance of, 316–17, 323
return to music attempted by, 324–28
Sara’s extramarital affair and, 158–59, 163, 221
Sara’s first meeting with, 35–36
Sara’s relationship with, 62, 145–48, 157, 163–64, 170, 180, 185–86, 225, 232–33, 325, 330
Sara’s remarriage and, 225–26
Sara’s separation from, 163–68, 170–71, 177–81
slackening in song production of, 186
as solo vocalist, 132, 242
song-hunting expeditions of, 5, 107–8, 111, 118–22, 127–38, 145–46, 148–49, 159, 165, 175, 177
as songwriter, 34, 107, 120, 133, 174, 175, 177, 186
tremor of, 27, 29–30, 187, 316, 330
voice and singing style of, 5, 29–30, 31, 47, 99–100, 109, 115, 147, 232, 242
wandering nature of, 57, 58–59, 99, 115
see also Original Carter Family
Carter, Anita (Maybelle’s daughter), 167, 179, 186, 187, 190–91, 194, 195–96, 242, 361, 390
birth of, 190
first Texas trip of, 197, 199–200, 215, 216, 226
marriages of, 298–99
musical training of, 226–27
on parents’ relationship, 356
as performer, 215, 226–30, 232, 233, 236–37, 247–313, 369, 370
personality and demeanor of, 228
photographs of, 183, 224, 245, 283, 335
Presley and, 308, 309–11
reluctant to continue performing, 264, 265, 336
schooling of, 253, 264, 276, 277, 288
singing with Original Carter Family, 215, 226, 232, 233, 236–37
social life of, 273
solo career of, 289–90, 311–12
as songwriter, 236–37
voice of, 271–72, 353–54
Williams and, 291–96, 298
yodeling of, 262–63, 287
see also Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle
“Carter, Aunt Polly” (character), 254, 270
Carter, Big Tom (A.P.’s cousin), 73–74, 118–19, 123, 319, 320
Carter, Carlene (Maybelle’s granddaughter), 363, 369–73
Carter, Dale (A.P.’s cousin), 73, 119
Carter, Dulaney (A.P.’s great-grandfather), 19, 332
Carter, E. T., 181
Carter, Elisha “Lish” (A.P.’s uncle), 12, 20, 30, 34, 66, 78, 101, 108
Carter, Ermine (A.P.’s brother), 25–26, 46, 52, 75, 173, 332
Carter, Ettaleen (A.P.’s sister), 12, 25, 101–2, 227, 331
Carter, Ezra “Eck” (“Pop”) (A.P.’s brother; Maybelle’s husband), 77, 78, 108, 112, 116, 166–67, 187–97, 299, 308, 354, 355–58
Bayses aided by, 152, 153
birth of, 25
books of, 249, 303, 350–51, 358
cars and driving of, 57, 62, 78, 100, 123, 188, 268, 278
Carter Family’s audition and, 78, 104
Carter Sisters managed by, 268–69, 271, 273, 283–84, 301
Cash and, 348, 350–52, 358, 360, 361
childhood of, 26–27, 28
competitiveness of, 188–89
cooking of, 196–97, 305
courtship and wedding of, 65–67
daughters’ musical careers and, 226–27, 229, 248, 250–51, 254, 255, 275–77, 335, 336
daught
ers’ suitors and, 249–50, 273, 276–77, 280–81, 300
drinking of, 191–92
as farmer, 194
as father, 188, 190–91, 226–27, 228–29, 249–50, 253, 255–56, 300
final days of, 387–89
Florida life of, 336–37, 355–57, 362–63, 390
generosity of, 193–95, 196
as grandfather, 362–63
homes of, 75, 124, 155–56, 157, 179, 186, 189–91, 194–96, 263–64, 304, 326, 336–37, 356
Maybelle’s relationship with, 74–76, 187, 190, 192, 303, 304–5, 388
motorcycle riding of, 74–75, 188
Opry offer and, 283–84
parents’ deaths and, 247, 248
personality and demeanor of, 26, 66, 187–89, 191, 193–96, 355–56
photographs of, xv, 12, 182
as railway mail clerk, 27, 56–57, 67, 155, 189, 191, 249, 254
religion and, 74, 192–94
retirement plans of, 336–37, 390
rock clearing of, 194, 304–5, 348
spending habits of, 56–57, 75, 124, 156, 189, 195–96, 278, 303–4, 357, 371
war effort and, 254–55
Williams and, 291, 295
Carter, Fern, see Salyers, Fern Carter
Carter, Gladys Ettaleen (later Mrs. Milan Millard) (A.P. and Sara’s daughter), 47–48, 60, 62, 76, 103, 111, 112, 142, 147, 148, 174, 240, 250, 317, 321, 322, 323, 328, 386
A.P.’s final days and, 329–31, 333
A.P.’s legacy to, 332
on A.P.’s songwriting, 120, 121
birth of, 59
at Carter Family’s audition, 78, 97–99
courtship and wedding of, 179, 214, 227
family homeplace deeded to, 241
household duties of, 167
as mother, 214
New York trip of, 167–70
parents’ separation and, 164, 166, 167, 171, 179
photographs of, 97, 163, 375
Carter, Grant (A.P.’s brother), 25, 192, 263, 326
Carter, Helen (later Mrs. Glenn Jones) (Maybelle’s daughter), 155, 167, 179, 181, 186, 187, 190, 192, 194, 196, 197, 215, 363, 368, 390
accordion playing of, 251, 270
birth of, 104
Bowman as fill-in for, 299–300, 301
childbearing of, 281, 287–88, 301
courtship and wedding of, 276–77, 280–81
first Texas trip of, 229, 231–32, 233, 236, 237
on Ma Carter, 227–28
musical training of, 226–27
as performer, 226–27, 229–30, 232, 233, 236–37, 247–313, 369–71, 383
personality and demeanor of, 227
photographs of, 183, 224, 245, 283
schooling of, 231, 249
singing with Original Carter Family, 232, 233, 236–37
social life of, 273
solo career of, 289
as songwriter, 336
see also Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle
Carter, Janette (later Mrs. Jimmy Jett) (A.P. and Sara’s daughter), 60–61, 76, 78, 103, 108, 110–11, 118, 121, 124, 147, 148, 174, 186, 196, 214, 315, 317, 322, 325, 329–32, 386
A.P.’s legacy to, 332
birth of, 59
festivals organized by, 375, 380–84, 387, 395
first Texas trip of, 230–32, 233–34
marriage of, 238–40
parents’ separation and, 163–66, 170–71, 179
as performer, 115–16, 229, 230, 233–36, 238, 240, 257
photographs of, 97, 163
Sara’s death and, 395, 396–97
schooling of, 231
songs gathered by, 236
Carter, Jim (A.P.’s brother), 12, 25, 29, 129
Carter, Joe (A.P. and Sara’s son), 46, 58, 74, 76, 103, 108, 142, 145–46, 167, 174, 200, 214, 225, 241, 303, 325, 386
A.P.’s legacy to, 332
birth of, 60
at Carter Family’s audition, 78, 97–99
farm work and, 172–73
first Texas trip of, 230–32, 234, 236
parents’ separation and, 164–66, 170, 171, 179
as performer, 234, 355, 383
photographs of, 97, 163, 334
schooling of, 231
streaking of, 147–48
Carter, June (later Mrs. Johnny Cash) (Maybelle’s daughter), 31, 115, 155, 161, 167, 179, 186, 188, 190, 192, 193, 195, 196, 197, 215, 357, 389, 390, 391
as actress, 312
Cash’s courtship of and wedding to, 346–52, 361
Cash’s drug habit and, 349, 359–61
childbearing of, 301
as comic, 232, 242–43, 254, 270, 279–80, 287, 302
first Texas trip of, 229–34, 236
on Maybelle’s guitar playing, 71
musical training of, 226–27
as performer, 6, 7, 226–27, 229–30, 232, 233, 236–37, 242–43, 247–313
personality and demeanor of, 228–29
photographs of, 183, 224, 245, 283, 334, 335
as salesperson, 252–53, 279–80, 312
schooling of, 249, 253, 259
singing with Original Carter Family, 232, 233, 236–37
Smith’s courtship of and marriage to, 299, 300–301, 312
social life of, 273
solo career of, 274–76, 289, 312, 336
sound systems and, 270–71
Williams and, 295, 296–97
see also Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle
“Carter, Little Junie” (character), 270, 271, 279
Carter, Little Tom, 319
Carter, Lois (A.P.’s niece), see Hensley, Lois Carter
Carter, Martha Bays (A.P.’s aunt), 30
Carter, Maybelle Addington, 5, 7, 33, 65–79, 95–313, 335–73
academics’ interest in, 337–38
arthritis suffered by, 371, 382
audience as focus of, 184, 272, 344
autoharp playing of, 344
awards received by, 370
Bayses’ move west and, 160, 161, 179
birth of, 67
cars and driving of, 254–55, 256, 301–2, 372–73
Cash and, 6, 347–53, 355, 358, 360–62, 364–66, 371, 388–91
childbearing of, 76, 78, 79, 97, 104, 190
childhood of, 45, 68–70
churchgoing of, 71–74, 192–93
cooking of, 196–97
courtship and wedding of, 65–67
death and burial of, 392–94
decline in career of (1950s), 312–13, 335–37
Eck’s death and, 388–89
Eck’s relationship with, 74–76, 187, 190, 192, 303, 304–5, 356, 388
family history of, 67–69
final days of, 388–92
Florida life of, 336–37, 362–63, 390–91
folk music revival and, 337–45, 353
gambling enjoyed by, 371–72, 391
as grandmother, 362–64
guitars and guitar-playing style of, 63, 70, 71, 108, 109–10, 184–85, 187, 233, 338–39, 341, 343–44, 367, 371, 382, 390
homes of, 75, 124, 155–56, 157, 179, 186, 189–91, 194–96, 263–64, 304, 326, 356
housekeeping of, 196–97
life on the road and, 254–57, 301–2
“Mama” moniker for, 292–93
as mother, 276, 300
musical abilities of, 5, 45, 70–71, 132–33, 184–85
musicians’ respect for, 6–7, 288, 291, 292–93, 343, 354, 367, 370
New Lost City Ramblers tour with, 340–43
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s recording with, 366–69, 392–93
as nurse, 343, 348–49, 352–53
Opry stars’ treatment of, 291, 292–93
perfectionism of, 183–84, 278
personality and demeanor of, 70, 76, 183–84, 190, 293, 341, 349
photographs of, xiv, xv, 64, 65, 107, 126, 127, 183, 282, 283, 335, 398
physical appearance of, 67, 70
Presley and, 307
retirement of, 389, 391
Sara and A.P.’s marital difficulties and, 185–86
Sara’s relationship with, 76
Sara’s reunion album and performances with, 354–55, 375, 380–84, 387
smoking of, 288
solo albums of, 354, 370–71
solo career of, 335–45, 352–58, 364–69, 370–71
as songwriter, 186–87, 241–42
television appearances of, 365
unable to read music, 122
Williams and, 292–93, 295–96
see also Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle; Original Carter Family
Carter, Mollie Bays (A.P.’s mother), 12, 13, 16–31, 33, 34, 39, 52, 59–60, 66, 67, 76, 77, 116, 171, 190, 214, 231, 250, 315, 331, 387
churchgoing of, 30–31, 192
Dewey’s illness and death and, 153, 154–55, 227
Eck’s drinking and, 192
Ettaleen’s death and, 102, 227
family history of, 21–22
final days of, 247, 248
household run by, 22–24
personality and demeanor of, 227–28
pregnancies and childbearing of, 25, 27, 28, 29
singing of, 24–25, 31
Carter, Nancy (A.P.’s grandmother), 19–20
Carter, Ora (A.P.’s sister-in-law), 52, 61, 116, 173
Carter, Preacher R. T., 240
Carter, Rebecca Smith (A.P.’s great-grandmother), 19
Carter, Robert (A.P.’s father), 12, 17–20, 23, 24, 26, 29, 33, 59, 66–67, 73, 76, 77, 119, 153, 193, 194, 249, 331, 387
churchgoing of, 30–31
death of, 247–48
family history of, 19–20, 22
Carter, Sara Dougherty (later Mrs. Coy Bayes), 5, 37–53, 59–63, 76–79, 95–250, 364
academics’ interest in, 379
A.P.’s death and, 331
A.P.’s first meeting with, 35–36
A.P.’s relationship with, 62, 145–48, 157, 163–64, 170, 180, 185–86, 225, 232–33, 325, 330
A.P.’s separation from, 163–68, 170–71, 177–81
autoharp played by, 40, 62
California life of, 375–80, 384–87
after Carter Family breakup, 257, 375–87
celebrity shunned by, 246–47
childbearing of, 59
childhood of, 38–41, 67, 101, 164
coming out of retirement, 354–55, 375, 380–84, 387
courtship and wedding of, 35–36, 38, 46–49, 50
Coy reunited with, 217–18, 222
Coy’s affair with, 158–61, 163, 164, 179–80, 186, 217–18, 221–22
Coy’s marriage to, 222, 225–26
Coy’s relationship with, 221–23, 237–38, 246, 385–86
death and burial of, 395–97
divorce of, 180–81
final days of, 393–95
as grandmother, 214, 387
homes of, 47–48, 51–53, 110–12, 125, 156, 174, 246, 384
household run by, 59–60, 103–4, 145–46, 147–49
liberation of, 61–62