Summary
Influenced by the blues as well as West African and African-American sounds, rhythm and blues, rap, and hip-hop have become popular and influential forms of music around the world. Featuring soulful lyrics, hard-driving beats, and infectious rhythms, these genres form a rich branch of America's musical culture. From Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin to LL Cool J and Dr. Dre, the performers who pioneered and perfected these musical forms have become household names.
American Popular Music: Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-Hop explores the characteristics and importance of each of these types of music and its history and evolution. This in-depth volume combines 52 photographs, a glossary, discography, and chronology to create an ideal go-to reference for music lovers everywhere.
Entries include:
- Herb Abramson
- Ray Charles
- Sam Cooke
- Doo wop
- Dr. Dre
- Earth, Wind, and Fire
- Eminem
- Aretha Franklin
- Funk
- Marvin Gaye
- The Isley Brothers
- Etta James
- Little Richard
- LL Cool J
- The Memphis Horns
- Motown
- Sugar Hill Gang
- Teddy Pendergrass
- Otis Redding
- Tupac Shakur
- Donna Summer
- Luther Vandross
- and many others.