American Women Songwriters: A Biographical Dictionary [Hardcover]

Virginia L. Grattan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 1993

Although American women have written many of our most memorable popular songs, their contributions have received little recognition. The first biographical dictionary devoted to American women songwriters, this work profiles 181 well-known and little-known women who have written popular and motion picture songs, musicals, country, blues, jazz, folk, gospel, and hymns. Many African-American and contemporary songwriter/performers such as Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Mariah Carey are included. This volume provides hard-to-find biographical and career information across the broad spectrum of indigenous American popular song. A history of women's contribution to the creation of American popular song emerges through these profiles. Grattan takes pains to profile the famous, the unsung, and those who persevered through sheer tenacity and against all odds. The dictionary is divided into ten music categories and profiles are alphabetically arranged within each category. An introduction to each chapter gives an historical overview of women's contributions to that form of music. Each profile consists of an up-to-date biographical essay on private life, career as both songwriter and, in many cases, performer, most famous songs, and sources of further information. Entries are cross-referenced. Lyrics from a number of the best-known songs by women songwriters are included. A bibliography and song index will aid the researcher.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Although most music dictionaries ignore American women (e.g., David Ewen's American Sonwriters , Wilson, 1986), Grattan's guide to 184 American-born popular woman composers and/or lyricists only partially rectifies the problem. While forgotten songwriters (e.g., Lydia Leech) are resurrected, some of the women listed here produced only a few works. In addition, the biographical data are sometimes sketchy (most articles run one page), secondary bibliographies are minimalist, and entries normally list only half a dozen compositions, without copyright dates, first performances, etc. Most surprising is the exclusion of Ellie "Leader of the Pack" Greenwich, the notable early rock songwriter. This title supplements the ASCAP Biographical Dictionary (Jacques Cattell, 1980), New Grove Dictionary of American Music ( LJ 1/87), and Gene Claghorn's Women Composers and Hymnists (Scarecrow, 1984). Recommended for popular music and women's studies collections.
- Anthony J. Adam, Prairie View A&M Univ. Lib., Tex.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“. . . useful for a public or school library.”–Choice

“. . . useful as a supplementary tool where music biography is in heavy demand.”–Reference Books Bulletin

“This book, brings together information on women composers and lyricists that, up to now, was scattered in a large variety of sources. The book is a needed and useful tool for music reference as well as for women's history reference. For either use, it is worth the price.”–RQ

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 294 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (April 30, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313285101
• ISBN-13: 978-0313285103
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,674,559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.