Short description:

This comprehensive two-volume set brings together all aspects of the blues from performers and musical styles to record labels and cultural issues, including regional evolution and history. Organized in an accessible A-to-Z format, the Encyclopedia of the Blues is an essential reference resource for information on this unique American music genre.

Long description:

This comprehensive two-volume set brings together all aspects of the blues from performers and musical styles to record labels and cultural issues, including regional evolution and history. Organized in an accessible A-to-Z format, the Encyclopedia of the Blues is an essential reference resource for information on this unique American music genre.

For a full list of entries, contributors, and more, visit the Encyclopedia of the Blues website.

'An impressive list of contributors ... Besides being rich with biographical entries, this Encyclopedia also includes entries for important record labels, instruments, styles, geographic regions, aspects of the business, and additional topics that have been lacking in other encyclopedic efforts ... This is a valuable addition to the reference shelf of blues literature ... Highly recommended.' - Choice

'This two-volume A-to-Z set effectively categorizes the history of the blues. A great benefit is that the book features blues artists from all time periods, and the number of obscure blues artists listed in remarkable. Essential for any library collecting the history of the blues.' -- Library Journal

'In this two-volume Encyclopedia, Komara provides about 2100 entries, both brief and extensive, on the blues, its history, culture, roots, contemporary styles, artists, historians, songwriters, record labels, forms, characteristics, instruments, songs, regions, historiography, music business, and related forms. Discographies and bibliographiesfor each entry are included, as well as a thematic list of entries and an index in each volume.' --Reference & Research Book News

"A great deal of useful material is enclosed within the two sets of covers. It spreads a broader and deeper net than the late Sheldon Harris?s Blues Who?s Who (1979), going beyond individual musicians, and it includes broader headings such as regions/states; musical styles and techniques; instruments; points of cultural interest; historiography; record labels; related art forms; specific 'major' songs. These longer entries are quite good, well-researched and well-written, worth knowing about and using." --Peter B. Lowry, Western Folklore, volume 68, nos. 2-3 (2009)

Table of Contents:

Entries include: American Folk Blues Festivals Bell, T.D. Below, Fred Below, La Marr Chicago Chitlin Circuit Cincinnati Cleveland Country Blues Country Music Detroit Dillard, Varetta Electric Flag Field Hollers Forms: Work-song Funderburgh, Anson Funk Gaddy, Bob Great Depression Guitar: Technical Description Harmonica Historiography: 1933-1942 Horn Sections Jazz Jug Kazoo Mandolin Marketing : Retailing Periodicals Piedmont Pittsburgh Rac ial Issues and the Blues Railroads Rap Research Rhythm and Blues Rochester, NY Rock-and-Roll Saint Louis San Francisco Scales Seattle Soul South America Sweden Topical Blues on: Civil Rights Transcription (Lyrics) and much more...