This book documents the history and traditions of story-telling practiced by the F. Wayne Lytle family of southern Nevada/Utah since their westward migration in the 1840s.

Rula and I were married in 1959. Periodically, during the course of our lives together, I composed music for us as a couple, as well for family situations and events such as weddings and funerals. Rula insisted that I write it all down, pointing out that musical expression opens a window on the soul, while cameras only reflect outward appearances. She created a collage to serve as a cover page for each piece that I wrote down. Recently, as I pondered the lineup of songs and solos we had recorded over the years, it dawned on me that we had at least partially filled the melodic hiatus in the...