The Cambridge Companion to Blues and Gospel Music

by Allan F. Moore (Editor)

From Robert Johnson to Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson to John Lee Hooker, blues and gospel artists play significant roles in twentieth-century culture. This overview of these genres provides an expression of the twentieth-century black American experience. Histories are questioned; songs and lyrical imagery are analyzed; perspectives are presented from the standpoint of voice, guitar, piano, and working musician. A concluding chapter discusses the impact that the genres have had on mainstream musical culture.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

236 pages, Paperback

First published March 13, 2003

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Cambridge Companion was pretty interesting and provided a good overview of the subject matter. I really enjoyed the "Twelve Key Recordings" chapter, as the discussions of each recording were to the point and really helped me understand the music better. I also liked the chapters on the development of blues and gospel a lot, since they covered ground that is lacking in most standard music curricula of my youth. I wish the chapter on imagery in blues lyrics had at least mentioned Angela Davis' book. I also would have liked more discussion of women blues singers, their dominance in the 1920s and 30s, and how their presence and role in the genre shifted over the 20th century.