Before Elvis - The Prehistory of Rock 'n' Roll (Paperback, New)

An essential work for rock fans and scholars, Before Elvis: The Prehistory of Rock 'n' Roll surveys the origins of rock 'n' roll from the minstrel era to the emergence of Bill Haley and Elvis Presley. Unlike other histories of rock, Before Elvis offers a far broader and deeper analysis of the influences on rock music. Dispelling common misconceptions, it examines rock's origins in hokum songs and big-band boogies as well as Delta blues, detailing the embrace by white artists of African-American styles long before rock 'n' roll appeared. This unique study ranges far and wide, highlighting not only the contributions of obscure but key precursors like Hardrock Gunter and Sam Theard but also the influence of celebrity performers like Gene Autry and Ella Fitzgerald. Too often, rock historians treat the genesis of rock 'n' roll as a bolt from the blue, an overnight revolution provoked by the bland pop music that immediately preceded it and created through the white appropriation of music till then played only by and for black audiences.In Before Elvis, Birnbaum daringly argues a more complicated history and rock's evolution from a heady mix of ragtime, boogie-woogie, swing, country music, mainstream pop, and rhythm-and-blues-a melange that influenced one another along the way, from the absorption of blues and boogies into jazz and pop to the integration of country and Caribbean music into rhythm-and-blues. Written in an easy style, Before Elvis presents a bold argument about rock's origins and required reading for fans and scholars of rock 'n' roll history.

General

Imprint:	Scarecrow Press
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	December 2012
First published:	December 2012
Authors:	Larry Birnbaum
Dimensions:	230 x 152 x 35mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	474
Edition:	New
ISBN-13:	978-0-8108-8628-5
Categories:	Books > Arts & Architecture > Music > Contemporary popular music > Rock & pop > General Books > Music > Contemporary popular music > Rock & pop > General Promotions
LSN:	0-8108-8628-6
Barcode:	9780810886285

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!