Charles L. Hughes is a historian based in Memphis, Tennessee. He is the author of two books, Country Soul: Making Music and Making Race in the American South and Why Bushwick Bill Matters, as well as numerous articles. He co-edits (with Jessica Hopper) the American Music Series at University of Texas Press. Originally from Wisconsin, he is Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Director of the Lynne & Henry Turley Memphis Center at Rhodes College.