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Folk & Blues: The Encyclopedia: The Premier Encyclopedia Of American Roots Music
 
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Folk & Blues: The Encyclopedia: The Premier Encyclopedia Of American Roots Music [Hardcover]

Irwin Stambler (Author), Lyndon Stambler (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)


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Book Description

April 11, 2001
Folk and blues remain vibrant and alive today and have been enjoying a new boom as audiences rediscover such blues performers as Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker, and Bessie Smith, and folk artists like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Bob Dylan. The excitement and impact of these musical forms are the focus of this extensively revised and updated third edition of Folk and Blues: The Encyclopedia. It covers a spectrum of artists, from the pioneers at the turn of the twentieth century to the stars of today: Keb' Mo', Altan the Chieftains, Ani DiFranco, Ry Cooder, Sarah McLachlan, Wilco, John Prine, and Los Lobos, to name a few. Folk and Blues: the Encyclopedia contains:

-Interviews with many of today's top artists
-Extensive awards information from the Grammys, the Folk Alliance, and the Blues Foundation
-Photos of the most important folk and blues artists of the twentieth century
-The first comprehensive index of folk and blues music

Unlike any other book currently on the market, Folk and Blues: The Encyclopedia covers the rich roots of American music, as pioneered by African Americans and European immigrants, and its influence on almost every facet of today's popular music around the globe. This encyclopedia provides insight into why folk and blues are distinct fields of their own but interact in many ways to provide important additions to America's musical heritage. This is a unique and highly readable reference that belongs on the desks of music critics and music lovers everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Following two previous Irwin Stambler solo works (The Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock and Soul and Country Music: The Encyclopedia), this well-done effort will serve as a more than adequate resource for fans and researchers of American folk and blues music. It will be most useful to those looking for an initial in on a particular artist or group or to satisfy a ready-reference need for an all-encompassing encyclopedic-type entry. The entries of many, if not most, of those profiled actually amount to mini-bios, some based on interviews with the performers, others written in cooperation with other experts. The Stamblers give solid coverage to most mainline folk and blues artists, old and new, as well as artists less associated with these genres, such as Dave Alvin and Hoyt Axton. Questions can be raised about criteria, particularly when one finds no entry for Johnny Cash (country and folk, most certainly) but one for Hootie and the Blowfish (rock or pop). Nevertheless, the writing is excellent and informative throughout, making this book a joy just to leaf through or to use for serious research. Some inclusion concerns aside, this is a good purchase where interest warrants."David M. Turkalo, Suffolk Univ. Law Sch. Lib., Boston
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Country music fans won't have to look any further...Country Music: The Encyclopedia has all the information you will probably need to know about the people who have made country music the big business it is today." --Tampa Tribune

"[A] landmark encyclopedia...A surefire hit for the country music lover." --Sullivan County (New York) Democrat

"[An] estimable resource." --Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

"The book is filled with fascinating, correct information that any fan will enjoy reading...You get a lot for your money, and it's something you can refer to for years to come." --Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

"Long, insightful entries tell about each artist's early life and musical development in a historical context; their most noteworthy albums are critiqued." --Asheville (North Carolina) Citizen-Times

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 816 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; 1st edition (April 11, 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312200579
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312200572
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 1.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,261,883 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

5 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and Informative, June 20, 2001
By 
Leigh Sprague (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Folk & Blues: The Encyclopedia: The Premier Encyclopedia Of American Roots Music (Hardcover)
As a music lover, I found this book to be both comprehensive and informative. Not only does it cover the notable figures in folk and blues, from the biggest stars to the unsung geniuses, but it does so with style and erudition. Many of the entries appear to be based on first hand interviews and contain information I have been unable to find anywhere else. I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in the vast field of folk and blues.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable!, June 28, 2001
By 
This review is from: Folk & Blues: The Encyclopedia: The Premier Encyclopedia Of American Roots Music (Hardcover)
Finally, an encyclopedia that covers the folk and blues artists that I love. Very informative and well written, Stambler's book is a must for those who want to learn about the many musicians who have helped to shape the unique American genres of music. For true fans of music history and trivia buffs, I also recommend checking out Stambler's other two music encyclopedias-'Country Music: The Encyclopedia,' and 'The Encyclopedia of Rock, Pop, & Soul.'
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2.0 out of 5 stars Elementary and incomplete, October 22, 2009
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This review is from: Folk & Blues: The Encyclopedia: The Premier Encyclopedia Of American Roots Music (Hardcover)
If you're looking for an "encyclopedia" of this topic, save your money. There's more left out than included. Disappointed.
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