by Peter Fryer (2000)
"Surveying a legacy that encompasses over 400 years, Peter Fryer traces the development of this musical crossover. He describes how slaves, mariners, and merchants brought African music form Angola and other ports of east Africa to Latin America. In particular they brought it to Brazil - today the country with the largest black population of any outside Africa. Fryer examines how the rhythms and beats of Africa were combined with European popular music to create a unique sound and dance tradition. He focuses on the political nature of this musical integration and the role of African heritage in the cultural identity of black Brazilians today."--Book cover
Jay Warner
American Singing Groups is the definitive history of pop vocal groups, encompassing the doo-wop of Dion & the Belmonts; the Motowns hits of the Supremes; the surf sound of the Beach Boys; country-rock of Crosby, Stills & Nash; and the slick pop sounds of N'SYNC.
William H.A. Williams
The image of the Irish in the United States changed drastically over time, from that of hard-drinking, rioting Paddies to genial, patriotic working-class citizens. In 'Twas Only an Irishman's Dream, William H. A. Williams traces the change in this image through more than seven hundred pieces of sheet music - popular songs from the stage and for the parlor - to show how Americans' opinions of Ireland and the Irish went practically from one extreme to the other. Because sheet music was a commercial item it had to be acceptable to the broadest possible song-buying public. "Negotiations" about their image involved Irish songwriters, performers, and pressured groups, on the one hand, and non-Irish writers, publishers, and audiences, on the other. Williams ties the contents of song lyrics to the history of the Irish diaspora, suggesting how ethnic stereotypes are created and how they evolve within commercial popular culture.
Harvey Sheldon
"Harvey Sheldon music historian presents the Golden Age of Pop Music, collection of documented stories featuring big swing bands and the greatest pop stars and love songs of the 30's, 40's, 50's and classic gems from the early 60's. This was an era of incredible stars, fantastic voices, beautiful harmonies, and magical melodies. It was the music we'll always remember -- it was the Golden Age of Pop Music! This collection of historical biographies and history features the true legends of this era -- Al Jolson, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, and Johnny Mathis, Vic Damone, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, Nat King Cole, The Mills Brothers, Al Martino, to name a few. The big swing bands of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Ray Anthony, Les Brown, Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, Billy May, Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Neal Hefti and lots more. Rosemary Clooney, Dean Martin, and the cast of Your Hit Parade. Many artists made their mark with pop standards, particularly interpreters like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Vie Damone, Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand, Peggy Lee, Sammy Davis, Jr., Mel Tonne, Sarah Vaughan, Eydie Gorme, Andy Williams, Nancy Wilson, Jack Jones, Steve Lawrence, Billy Eckstine, Al Jolson, Nat King Cole, and Perry Como. Bring the nostalgia of the Golden Age Of Pop Music and the magical charisma of its performers and the history of authentic of The Golden Age of Pop Music!"--P. [4] of cover.
Todd Decker
"Who should sing Ol' man river? : the lives of an American song tells the almost eighty-year performance history of a great popular song. Examining over two hundred recorded and filmed versions of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's classic song, the book reveals the power of performers to remake one popular song into many different guises"--Provided by publisher.