Contributions by Scott B. Bomar, Rick Bragg, Dayton Duncan, David Fricke, Holly George-Warren, Peter Guralnick, and Michael Streissguth In the late 1960s in Philadelphia, Mississippi, nine-year-old Marty Stuart started his first band and began playing country music and collecting treasures of the culture. More than a half century later, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History has partnered with the country musician and ambassador to share his story and collection with the public in an exhibition and tandem publication. Marty Stuart has worked with the legends of country music, from his early days playing with Lester Flatt and Johnny Cash to his su ..

Marty Stuart's tenth studio album, The Pilgrim, was released 1999. The risky and ambitious concept project--based on true events that transpired in his hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi--was a turning point in Marty's unique artistry. While not a commercial success at the time, The Pilgrim represents a rediscovery of his roots and a creative rebirth that continues to reverberate today as we celebrate the album's twentieth anniversary. From the art direction, to the eccentric narrative, to the participation of iconic performers such as Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, and Connie Smith, The Pilgrim somehow managed to conn ..