From its humble beginnings as a way to pass the time in the Appalachian Mountains to international acclaim and one of the most popular genres of music today, country music has a long and varied history. It is the base of most of the music we listen to today. Country Music will take you on a journey through nearly a hundred years of this genre, showing how it touches the hearts of people everywhere. The Mason Crest series Evolution and Cultural Influences of Music in Society examines the history and development of popular musical genres. Books in this series provide young readers with a greater understanding of each musical genre, and how it has contributed to and shaped American popular culture over the past half-century.