Bluegrass, folk, blues, Cajun, Celtic, and country music-these traditional genres have recently fostered a popular explosion of music and dance festivals throughout the United States. From Every Stage: Images of America's Roots Music is a photo narrative, capturing the emotion, excitement, and energy of performances by greats and up-and-comers in the broad spectrum of roots-derived music in America.

Stephanie P. Ledgin brings thirty years of writing and photojournalism to this lavishly illustrated book. Two hundred color and black-and-white photographs depict singers, instrumentalists, and dancers in action and in unguarded, spontaneous backstage moments.

Folk icons Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, and Odetta grace the stage. Bluegrass and newgrass stars shine in photos of Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, David Grisman, Ricky Skaggs, and Béla Fleck. Scottish fiddle wizard Johnny Cunningham, fiery Irish fiddler Eileen Ivers, Piedmont blues guitarist John Jackson, and "zydeco" Queen Ida join such legendary artists as John Hartford, Doc Watson, and Jean Ritchie. Country greats Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart, Wynonna Judd, Roy Clark, and comedienne Minnie Pearl perform at prestigious venues. Finally, several interviews with such pivotal personalities as Vassar Clements, Jimmie Skinner, and Beausoleil's Michael Doucet, all published here for the first time, lend voice and character to this trove of images.

An eloquent foreword by CBS News Sunday Morning anchor Charles Osgood, also host of The Osgood File, provides entrée to this vibrant panorama.