The Big Band Era [Paperback]

Bob Wilder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2002

Bob Wilder began a 40-year award-winning career in journalism in 1950 as a sports writer in Lubbock, Tex., and retired on his 65th birthday in December 1992 as news editor of the Santa Barbara News-Press, then a New York Times-owned newspaper. After completing a hitch in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he edited newspapers in Dallas, Vicksburg, Houston, Salt Lake City, Stockton and Santa Barbara. Wilder has served as county editor and state editor of the Dallas Times Herald; city editor of the Vicksburg Post, night sports editor of the Houston Chronicle; copy editor of the Salt Lake City Tribune; and sports editor of the Stockton Record. Wilder has received the coveted Dallas Press Club reporting award, a two-state writing award at Vicksburg, and the Page One makeup award at Santa Barbara. Born in Tulsa in 1927, he now lives with his wife in Stockton, California. His appreciation for Big Band jazz has been a lifelong interest.

Product Details

• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: Elderberry Press (OR) (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193085952X
• ISBN-13: 978-1930859524
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,601,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I should have listened to Donald Myren, July 19, 2005

By 

M. Martindale (Bossier City, LA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Big Band Era (Paperback)

I've often said I think I was born in the wrong time. I love the Big Band era. The clothes, the cars, the styles, and of course, the music. So let me preface by saying, maybe I'm spoiled. I have the Ken Burns Jazz documentary on DVD, along with the complete CD music collection, with most of the "individual" CDs in the series. I own a respectable collection of Big Band music, CD's and vinyl. And I have a weekly Big Band Radio Show every Saturday morning, "Moonlight Memories". I even have the movies "The Benny Goodman Story", and "The Glenn Miller Story" on DVD.
I always look forward to reading about the Big Bands, the leaders, and the era. But with this book I should've looked backward. It reminds me of a 7th grade book report. Written with huge type, wide margins, three page chapters, and plenty of spelling errors. (It isn't Paul Whitman, it's Paul Whiteman) But worse, the level of writing is only at about a Jr. High level. I was VERY disappointed. If you are really trying to learn about the Big Band era, or even just want a "casual" read about your favorite bands, pass this by. $19.95?! This book is $2.95 at a bargain/used book store at best. I'm sorry Bob Wilder. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice... won't happen.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother with this one., November 18, 2003

By 

Donald Myren "Ol Ace" (Sun City, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Big Band Era (Paperback)

This slim volumn of large print (I'm sure in order to expand the page count) was an easy read, I finished it in less than an hour. It probably took a little longer to write. The author is a journalist and he wrote it like an opinion piece. I learned nothing new and consider it a waste of time. Certainly not worth the price.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Big Band Era...A New Look..., January 14, 2003

By 

G. Wilder "WilderMom" (Vancouver, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Big Band Era (Paperback)

Reading the book "The Big Band Era" took me back to a time that I truly missed out on because of my age (I was born in 1960). It was a very informative book and easy to read. The writer Bob Wilder does a superb job of getting my attention and keeping it. I didn't want to put the book down until I had read it all. It really made me feel I missed out on the rich memories of the Big Band Era. It was great to hear about! It made me want to put a nickle in the juke box and hear some of the greatest musicians ever....