The Unofficial Encyclopedia of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [Hardcover]

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1998

This reference work includes an examination of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's selection process, a review of the annual induction ceremony, and provides career biographies of 149 Hall of Fame inductees from the artists and producers to the record company founders and deejays. It details the turbulent history of the museum's choice of locale and the internal politics involved in the induction process. The only work of its kind on the topic, this reference provides valuable information for the scholar, researcher, and rock enthusiast, and includes a comprehensive listing of each year's inductees. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, much like the music it honors and promotes, had controversial beginnings. Politics and contention continue to affect the inductee selection process. Talevski provides an in-depth, chronological study of the museum's history including a detailed summary of the conception and rise of "rock and roll." This unique collection of historical data and anecdotes surrounding the ceremonies provides information unavailable elsewhere.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this somewhat interesting (if overpriced) look at how and where America's rebellious pop-culture child has ended up, Talevski details the machinations, politics, and philosophy involved in founding the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His telling of how it came to be housed in Cleveland along with his rundown of each year's induction ceremonies since the hall's 1986 founding is well done?and would have been enough. However, in the rest of the book?which is mostly a more in-depth look at each of the 149 inductees through 1997?Talevski offers nothing new except inductees' real and full names and dates of induction. The eclectic bibliographic information for each artist can indeed be helpful because it has been pulled from sources that are not always used to the fullest extent, but the entries themselves seldom reveal anything not already available in other pop-music reference works. Appendixes provide a chronological listing of inductees by year and category and, perhaps most interestingly, nominees who were not inducted. While this is an enjoyable read with some unique reference value, it is recommended only for the most comprehensive pop-culture collections.?David M. Turkalo, Suffolk Univ. Law Sch. Lib., Boston
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“A cheerful presentation of the Hall's history and its 150 inductees.”–Choice

“An enjoyable read with some unique reference value.”–Library Journal

“Given the amount of media coverage the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has received since its inception in the mid-`80s...it's a wonder that it took so long for any book on the subject to appear.”–Discoveries

“What makes it interesting are the quotes, the anecdotes, and the personal nature of the writing....This book will appeal to both the browser interested in leafing through the material and to the individual who needs to find specific information not only on performers, but on rock and roll songwriters and entrepreneurs as well....This title would certainly be an important addition to any school or public library's reference shelf.”–VOYA

“This book is a welcome addition to any music lover's library.”–ARBA

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313300321
• ISBN-13: 978-0313300325
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,455,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent rock reference book., October 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Unofficial Encyclopedia of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Hardcover)

This book provides a critical summary of the origins of rock and roll and the Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. It details the early history of rock and the historical basis for the Hall of Fame's location in Northeast Ohio. It also serves as a biographical reference tool of the present Hall of Fame inductees. It provides a unique look at a very popular destination for today's rock fans.