About the Author

Caroline Gnagy is a music writer and musician based in Austin, Texas. She has served as contributing writer and music editor for a number of independent local and national publications. Since 2011, she has probed into the history of prison bands in Texas and other states and presented her research at numerous academic conferences. Caroline is currently working on her second book, about the lives and careers of female rockabilly performers from pioneers to the present day.

Reviews

Drawing deeply on prison records, radio show transcripts, and the words and music of the inmates themselves, music writer Caroline Gnagy passionately tells the stories of these men and women musicians -- who also were inmates -- in her powerful new book, Texas Jailhouse Music: A Prison Band History (The History Press). Above all, Gnagy is careful to present singers and musicians as real people -- mothers, fathers, lovers, friends -- who happen to be behind bars. No Depression