It was country music that first gave Aboriginal people a voice in modern Australia, long before it was commonplace for Aboriginal dance companies to tour the world or for Central Desert 'dot paintings' to sell for astronomical sums. Though black skin and country music might seem an unlikely pairing, Aboriginal country music has a long and rich tradition, from 1950s pioneers such as Jimmy Little, Lionel Rose, the Country Outcasts, and Auriel Andrew to Vic Simms, Roger Knox, and Troy Cassar-Daley. Telling black stories in a way white folks could understand as well, country music was not only a salve for its own dispossessed people, it offered common ground in a divided land and the possibility of grassroots reconciliation. Packed with rare photographs and memorabilia and including a detailed discography, 'Buried country' offers a fascinating account of the growth of this vital force in Aboriginal culture and its role in changing Australian society.

Contents: 1. Little by Little: Jimmy Little -- Songs of the Lord -- Bronco Billy -- Lone Voice -- 2. Beyond the bungalow: Herb Laughton -- Claypan dancing -- Jabbi Jabbi songs -- 3. Deep north blues: On the flipside: the Pitt Dynasty, the Assang Brothers, and other Queensland Blackbirds -- White business -- Redfern loyalty -- 4. a bludger, I a drunk, I a jailbird Dougie Young and the troubadour tradition -- Freedom writers -- 5. Take a glove, take a guitar: Lionel Rose and the Singing Fighters -- Black knight -- 6. Prison songs: Vic Simms -- From little things (big things grow) -- 7. Gunfighter ballads: Bobby McLeod -- Get outta Dodge -- 8. Stand by your man: Harry and Wilga Williams and the Country Outcasts -- Gubba country -- 9. Namatjira gramophone: Gus Williams -- 10. Truckstop sweetheart: Auriel Andrew -- Across the borderline -- 11. Crying time: Bob Randall -- Country-rock against racism -- Seven sisters -- 12. Countryman: Isaac Yamma -- King bands -- 13. The man who would be king: Roger Knox -- Tamworth outlaws -- Big Mac -- Murri country -- 14. Kimberley pickin Kevin Gunn and the North-Western Desert-surf sound -- Seven brothers -- he singing politician-- 15. New corridos: Kev Carmody, Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter -- Harmony rising -- 16. Open road: Troy Cassar-Daley -- Little big man.

"The original edition of this book was published in 2000 by Pluto Press (Australia)." Includes bibliography and index.