Originally broadcast from July 2003 to September 2003, this rather engaging radio program explored the origins and development of America's popular music tradition in the first five decades of the 20th century. Hosted by NPR's Paul Brown, this website is designed to complement this fine series, and allow the musically curious visitor to listen to each of the eleven segments in the series. The segments include a number of fine historic performances (by such seminal musicians as Jimmie Rodgers and Kitty Wells), rare archive tape, and interviews with contemporary musicians, including Honeyboy Edwards, Taj Mahal, Alison Krauss, and Merle Haggard. From the site's main page, visitors can also elect to receive email updates about the program and find out exactly what a honky-tonk is. The site is rounded out by a special web-only program on the legendary Carter Family and their legacy in country music.