Swing Shift: "All-Girl" Bands of the 1940s

by Sherrie Tucker

Book Overview

The forgotten history of the "all-girl" big bands of the World War II era takes center stage in Sherrie Tucker's Swing Shift. American demand for swing skyrocketed with the onslaught of war as millions-isolated from loved ones-sought diversion, comfort, and social contact through music and dance. Although all-female jazz and dance bands had existed since the 1920s, now hundreds of such groups, both African American and white, barnstormed ballrooms,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0822328178
• ISBN13: 9780822328179
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Duke University Press
• Length: 424 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Excellence for an Amazon Verified Purchase

It was wonderful to receive Swing Shift so quickly and in excellent condition. It is great to be able to save money without sacrificing quality. Thank you.

The Best History of Women Jazz Musicians Ever

This book is a fascinating and unique book on jazz, gender, and race. Thoroughly researched and beautifully written, Swing Shift documents the central position black and white women musicians played in the Swing Era and World War II. Sherrie Tucker combines oral histories with archival research, producing a stunning record of what history books can be and what jazz women are. Most amazing is the author's analysis of race and racism as structuring aspects of the music industry, jazz history, and contemporary accounts of the 1940s. Swing Shift is the most accomplished book on women, music, and race that I have ever read; it is a gift as remarkable, talented, honest, funny, and captivating as the women musicians Dr. Tucker researched and loves.

More Than Just My Grandma

My Grandmother was part of an all-girl band during this era, and still plays strong today. She was contacted to participate in the making of this book and thus my interest in reading the work was peaked. However, I soon realized there is so much more the book offers. Starting with a detailed historical description of the way African-American women were treated, the book moves on to cover a wide variety of trials women went through to get their music heard. I highly recommend the book for anyone interested in Jazz, in history, in women's study, or in just understanding the power of music, of voice, and of struggle throughout the ages of this society.