Born into poverty in Mississippi at the close of the nineteenth century, Charley Patton and Jimmie Rodgers established themselves among the most influential musicians of their era. Wynne tells the story of the parallel careers of these two pioneering recording artists--one black, one white--who moved beyond their humble origins to change the face of American music. As the invention of the phonograph disseminated traditional forms of music to a wider audience, Jimmie Rodgers gained fame as the 'Father of Country Music,' and Patton's work earned him the title 'King of the Delta Blues.'