Product Description

This engaging history of the independent rock 'n' roll record industry from its raw regional beginnings in the 1940s with R & B and hillbilly music through its decline in the 1960s combines narrative history with extensive oral history material from numerous recording pioneers. The rich oral histories provide abundant on-the-ground information about nurturing new artists such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and B. B. King and then losing them to the bigger labels; developing pressing plants, distribution centres, jukebox circuits, and disk jockey networks; financing these operations, often on shoestring budgets; and, creating innovative approaches (including payola) to developing an audience. This exceptional volume contains the author's interviews with major players in the independent music scene, including Joe Bihari of Modern Records; Marshall Chess of Chess Records; Jerry Wexler, Ahmet Ertegun, and Miriam Bienstock of Atlantic Records; Sam Phillips of Sun Records; Art Rupe of Specialty Records; and, many more. Behind-the-scenes sources include London Records' remarkable Mimi Trepel; music publishers Gene Goodman and Freddy Bienstock; "The Cash Box" trade magazine editors Ira Howard, Irv Lichtman, and Marty Ostrow; disc jockey Bill 'Hoss' Allen of Radio WLAC, Nashville; recording studio/label owner and erstwhile teenage jukebox operator Cosimo Matassa; and, many, many others.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #81154 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 640 pages

Review
"A treasure. John Broven has given the academic world a good dose of old-fashioned shoe leather journalism. This book will be invaluable to scholars studying the music industry and particularly the rock 'n' roll era." Don Cusic, author of Johnny Cash: The Songs "Record Makers and Breakers is replete with groundbreaking research that more than any other single book explains how the popular music industry worked. A must read about the record industry." Robert Pruter, author of Doowop: The Chicago Scene and Chicago Soul "Broven's monumental history of post-war independent labels is a fascinating study of the birth of an industry that spawned as many chancers and charlatans as it did savvy business brains and inspirational music moguls...the warmth and character-driven personality of the writing makes it accessible to all. The depth of factual detail is incredible, but it's presented in the style of a rich oral history...it's a chronicle of the entrepreneurial American spirit, liberally punctuated by the creation of some of the most exciting and innovative music of all time." Terry Staunton, Record Collector, January 2009 "Broven, whose Walking To New Orleans was hailed as the finest book on New Orleans music, now turns his attention to the history of America's indie record industry."-Fred Dellar, Mojo, March 2009

Customer Reviews

another "Goodie" from J.B.
If you are into 50's Rock n Roll you need this book ! GET IT NOW !!