Sunset of the Western

Map It:  Smithsonian 

YOU MIGHT THINK that a collection of pictures subtitled "Portraits of Country Music 1972-1981" picked an odd decade to focus on. But Henry Horenstein was fortunate to have been able to chronicle a pivotal time in the history of American popular culture.

His book "Honky Tonk" tells of the era the Boston-based photographer likes to call "B.A. — Before Alabama," that is, before the four dudes with the Logginsesque facial hair slicked up the country charts for good (that's a young Dolly Parton at right).

Saturday morning, Horenstein will sign copies of "Honky Tonk" and give a gallery talk at the National Museum of American History, where a related exhibit closes Sept. 4, when the museum shuts down for renovation. Following him will be a performance by bluegrassers Seneca Rocks!

Horenstein's freelance work for a young Rounder Records gained him backstage access at the Ryman Auditorium on pilgrimages to Nashville. (This was before the Grand Ole Opry decamped to an amusement park across town.)

Down the alley at Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Horenstein trained his lens on the scene at a favorite post-Opry hangout. "It's still there, Tootsies, but they've kinda branded it. It looks the same but the feeling's different than it was," he lamented. "But people used to just come in and sign their names on the walls. And they could be performers or they could be just someone visiting."

There's also a poignant shot of the Blue Sky Boys, one of the greatest close-harmony brother teams, performing at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival in 1974. A tarp is stretched behind them; several of the lawn chairs up front sit empty.

"It was such a little deal," Horenstein said. "They were just huge in their day, and then when they retired they went to work for the post office. Can you imagine Tim McGraw working at the post office?"

» National Museum of American History, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW; Sat., 11 a.m. (talk), noon (concert); free; 202-633-1000. (Smithsonian)

This post was written by Express contributor Glenn Dixon. Photo courtesy Henry Horenstein.