DeFord Bailey

Includes a new foreword by musician Dom Flemons, forty-five illustrations, and a complete session discography.

A founding member of the Grand Ole Opry and the program’s first Black star, DeFord Bailey (1899–1982) was among the Opry’s most popular early performers. Known as the “Harmonica Wizard” for his virtuosity on the instrument, he was also a singer, guitarist, banjoist, and composer. 

For decades following his departure from the Opry, Bailey’s story was shrouded in mystery. This meticulously researched biography, long out of print, tells the story of a pioneering Black star in early country music in rich and fascinating detail. The book’s original publication in 1991 helped pave the way for Bailey’s election to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005.