Solid Foundation: An Oral History of Reggae [Paperback]

David Katz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 17, 2003

A groundbreaking and comprehensive history of reggae, with firsthand accounts by reggae's most prominent and popular figures.

Solid Foundation: An Oral History of Reggae is an original, in-depth look at one of the most influential music genres. Through exclusive interview material and previously unpublished photographs, David Katz brings to life over one hundred of reggae's most important artists, including Toots and The Maytals, The Melodians, the Skatalites, and the Wailers Band, Augustus Pablo, Culture, Sugar Minott, Cocoa Tea, and Frankie Paul, who speak for the first time about their roles in the music's progression. From the pre-ska years of the late 1950s to the dawning of the digital age in the mid-1980s, Solid Foundation charts the evolution of ska, rock steady, traditional and untraditional reggae styles, and the sub-genres of dub, deejay, and dancehall. The book is largely drawn from conversations Katz conducted with the architects of Jamaica's popular music, and with perceptive and detailed commentary, he celebrates the creativity and individuality that have made reggae music one of the most popular contemporary styles throughout the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The wealth of detail is mind-boggling - you almost want to study every paragraph twice. Take a bow, Mr K, this is a cracking read' Mojo 'The definitive history of reggae told through 100 exclusive interviews with the genre's greatest innovators' Sunday Herald --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

David Katz is author of one previous book, People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee Scratch Perry, a contributor to The Rough Guide to Reggae, and a contributor to the forthcoming A Jamaican Tapestry: The Best of Skywritings. His writing and photographs have appeared in many different international publications, including The Guardian, Mojo, Rhythm and the Beat. He has coordinated and annotated several retrospective collections of Jamaican music, released an original record in France, and has co-hosted reggae radio programs on three continents. Originally from San Francisco, he currently lives in London, where he sometimes deejays at select night spots.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA; 1 edition (April 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582341435
• ISBN-13: 978-1582341439
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,746,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in San Francisco but long resident in London, David Katz is author of Solid Foundation: An Oral History of Reggae. He also contributed to The Rough Guide to Reggae, A Tapestry of Jamaica, and Keep On Running: The Story of Island Records. His writing and photographs have appeared in many international periodicals and music books, and he has co-ordinated and annotated over 100 retrospective collections of Jamaican music. He has also co-hosted reggae radio programmes on three continents, released original records in the UK and France, and contributed to various radio and television documentaries and feature films, while his Dub Me Always deejay nights continue to be a regular feature of London's musical landscape.

http://www.davidkatz.r8.org

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely fascinating, June 5, 2003

By 

E. L. Oneill "Lee O'Neill" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Solid Foundation: An Oral History of Reggae (Paperback)

The books that have been available on the history and background of reggae have (almost) always been organized around the rise of Bob Marley and the Wailers and have (again, almost) always shown an overconcentration on what went on in the UK (as opposed to Jamaica).

Katz's book is blessedly different. For one thing, it's an oral history (as opposed to a researched/analytical history) and as such, he lets the artists and producers and other figures speak for themselves. This gets the reader much closer to the source than any other similar text. The story also unfolds in the same way that a bunch of guys shooting the breeze in a bar might tell it which I found extremely compelling. It is also the very first book on reggae that made me really understand the nature of the connection between London and Jamaica (besides just asserting a large expat community in London). Not only that, but it's the first time I remember reading anyone giving credit to the NY scene as well.

Because of the anecdotal nature of the book, it's hard to hold the writer accountable for it's weaknesses. It's not really set up to be a research tool (it's hard to find specific facts or specific stories) and after reading it for a while, you realize that there are several voices missing from the narrative. Some have been exposed to death in other places (Marley, Peter Tosh, Lee Perry) but there are others I found conspicuous by their absence (Inner Circle, Brigadier Jerry, Yellowman).

Finally, I just LOVE the focus on musicians. These guys are the real heart of reggae but have long stood in the shadows of the singers and producers.