From Library Journal
As Shaw correctly states, no single volume covers the history of black popular music in its entirety, and most studies have focused on the white mainstream. American pop music is in fact a blend of black and white musical influences that can be better understood if explored from a black perspective. Shaw examines five key black stylesminstrelsy, spirituals, ragtime, jazz, and bluesanalyzing the origins and developments of each, profiling important artists and songs, and exploring the "white synthesis." Often the "synthesis" has amounted to little more than a soulless white imitation of inspired black stylistic innovations. A final chapter looks at the contemporary scene. It will be easy for the casual reader to get lost in the avalanche of detail, and there are minor errors, but overall this is a worthy, much needed, well-documented history. A basic purchase for public, secondary, and college libraries. Thomas Jewell, Waltham P.L., Mass.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Synopsis
A history of Black music looks at important styles, performers, and songwriters, and assesses its influence on modern popular music.