Dirt & Spirit
A History of the Red Dirt Music Scene, Vol. I
Tonya Little
Little Okieland Publishing
With her debut release, Dirt & Spirit, author and Oklahoma native Tonya Little has penned a heartfelt tribute to a treasured music scene — a love letter of sorts that’s as honest and pure as the music itself.
The Red Dirt genre can be a smidge tough to define, as it’s a beautiful stylistic blend of country, rock, jazz, and soul. And although it has reached a wide audience in recent years, its organic, folksy, and earthy roots can be traced all the way back to the red dirt of Stillwater, Oklahoma, during the 1960s.
While at its core, Dirt & Spirit IS about music, Little delivers readers the best and brightest payoff when she focuses on the people who have created the music and the places where it has all played out.
“The Red Dirt music scene, to me, is much more about the people, the philosophy, and the community than it is about a style or genre,” says Little. “It’s about Oklahoma roots and the spirit of community.”
Oozing authenticity, Dirt & Spirit is packed with fascinating photos from back in the day, and is built on compelling commentary from a myriad of the scene’s pioneers. Hence, Dirt & Spirit is about more than just music; it’s a pop culture history book about a cozier time in America’s heartland. And although many of the featured musicians aren’t household names, a menagerie of all-stars, including Leon Russell, J.J. Cale, and the Flying Burrito Brothers, do pop up along the way as they help lay the early Red Dirt groundwork.
“When I got to know the Red Dirt community, there wasn’t any kind of history that could be found, other than oral history,” Little adds. “I felt like this was way too important to get lost in time, and knew I needed to get the history down into a book, and give them the legacy they deserved.”
In sum, Tonya Little has crafted a morning coffeehouse cozy. And for like-minded readers who crave true blue Americana music and stories, Dirt & Spirit is a must-read treat. ◼
