Thanks for your insight and contributions Rick, because of you and others I'm starting to get a handle on it. If anyone has any other books they could recommend it would be helpful. I am a member of the High Lonesome Strings Bluegrass Association in NC and try and get out to as many festivals as I can.

Rick, I think you're right- although Cantwell did his research it's hard to feel he is directly involved with the bluegrass musician. Cantwell seems so far removed form the pickers and it's hard to empathize with his articulate insights and positions.

The reason I read and subsequently reviewed the book, "Bluegrass Breakdown" is to try and get some insight into what "bluegrass" really is. There have been several recent threads including:

Review: Is Appalachian Folk Music= Bluegrass?
Genealogy of Bluegrass
Celtic Roots of Bluegrass sought
Why Bluegrass?

It seems in some regard that many people don't seem to know what "bluegrass" is, or the difference between, "old-time" and "bluegrass." Although Cantwell writes about both, he doesn't offer up concise definitions. He does go into what bluegrass is and where it came from including the important blues, Appalachian folk, and minstrel roots.

The questions I'd like feedback on are:

What is bluegrass? (a defintion) (How many people, what instruments etc.)

Where did it come from? (roots and influences)

Is the banjo an American instrument? (even if it originated from "bania" in Western Africa)

What is the difference between, "old-time" and "bluegrass?"

If rock or any kind of music is played by a bluegrass band, is it "bluegrass" music?

-Richie