Encyclopedia of the Blues (P)

by Gérard Herzhaft

Book Overview

From cotton fields to international festivals, from Mamie Smith's 1920 recording of Crazy Blues to the young rising stars of today, the growth of the blues has been long and varied. This indispensable reference contains hundreds of entries with detailed examinations of the instruments, trends, recordings, producers, and performers who have helped to popularize blues music. Selected discography. 50 illustrations.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1557282536
• ISBN13: 9781557282538
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: University of Arkansas Press
• Length: 513 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

You won't get the blues from buying this book

I have the hard-to-find first edition of Gérard Herzhaft's Encyclopedia Of The Blues, the one printed in 1996. It is worth finding if you can. If not, this edition (which I am trying to decide whether to buy or not) may well be as good or better than the first. The first edition has over 500 pages, but fewer photos I think. Gérard Herzhaft's Encyclopedia Of The Blues is the most accurate, in-depth, and comprehensive collection of Blues musician information I have been able to find anywhere in the past 6 years of being an active Blues fan. I wish Gérard would know how much his great work is appreciated by all of us Blues music fans in the USA and the world. Thank you Gérard.

Solid, comprehensive survey of major blues artists in all fi

I write as a blues fan of forty years standing in order to assure folks that this French fellow knows his stuff. When I first heard about this Encyclopedia 8 years ago, I was concerned that it would be another effete European effort to convince Americans that they have no taste.Au contraire! This is the first survey-type of blues review which does justice to disparate blues streams such as blues shouters (barely touched on in Cohn's book) and boogie woogie, as well as Delta blues and obscure East Texas singers of the Twenties.The Encyclopedia is well-organized, with fine summary essays on various blues streams so that the reader can follow developments on different fronts without having to turn back and forth between essays on individuals. There is a generous serving of individual biographical sketches as well, and Gerard does us the favor of pointing out when certain blues artists are following in the footsteps of others.He also does a good job of including glancing references to less well-known blues artists who are worth investigating later in yours blues journey.All in all an excellent reference work with plenty to interest the casual blues fan.