Summary
American popular music reflects a rich cultural diversity. From Aaron Copland to Miles Davis to Elvis Presley to Muddy Waters, the United States has produced some of the most influential and beloved musicians and performers of all time. The blues, jazz, and rock and roll—musical genres loved around the world—were born here, and American composers, producers, singers, and songwriters have crafted a unique heritage in other genres such as classical and folk.
The four-volume American Popular Music set celebrates American music by presenting a wealth of information on seven major musical branches. Each comprehensive book provides the perfect, one-stop source for research in major fields of American music. Approximately 400 entries in each volume cover key personalities, landmark performances and recordings, hit songs and experimental compositions, important publications, musical instruments, styles of music, social and historical issues, organizations and schools, record companies, and much more. Together, the volumes comprise a panoramic depiction of American music and the influential threads that weave the different musical genres together.
Written by experts for students and enthusiasts, American Popular Music is an essential resource for the study and appreciation of American music. A seven-member editorial board of expert advisers includes top academics who are also performing musicians, producers, and songwriters, including a Grammy nominee and an internationally recognized composer.
Each book includes 40 to 60 photographs, a glossary, a discography of recommended listening, a chronology, and an index. American Popular Music is a must-have resource not only for students researching music but also for those interested in social movements, cultural history, geography, technology, the growth of broadcast and recorded media, ethnography and anthropology, and many other topics.
Specifications
For each title: Black-and-white photographs. Index. Bibliography. Glossary. Cross-references. Chronology. Discography.
About the Author(s)
General editor Richard Carlin is the author of several books on music, including Southern Exposure, The Big Book of Country Music, Classical Music: An Informal Guide, and the five-volume Worlds of Music. He has also written and compiled several books of music instruction and songbooks and served as Advisory Editor on Country Music for the American National Biography. Carlin has contributed articles on traditional music to various journals, including the Journal of Ethnomusicology, Sing Out!, Pickin', Frets, Mugwumps, and others. He has also produced 10 albums of traditional music for Folkways Records. A long-time editor of books on music, dance, and the arts, Carlin is currently Executive Editor of Music and Dance at Routledge Publishers. He previously spent six years as Executive Editor at Schirmer Books, and was the founding editor at A Cappella Books, an imprint of the Chicago Review Press.