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[Aquila] presents to readers what he contends is the vibrant, innovative, and contextually assorted music scene during the time span of 1959 to 1964.Readers will be delighted by the knowledgeable Aquila's survey of a period not completely covered by his earlier works.
Rock & Roll in Kennedy's America seeks to rectify the long-held belief that rock & roll in the early years of the 1960s has little to tell us about that time period. Aquila presents a recounting of the hits and the bands that made them from 1959 until the Beatles emerged in 1964. He succeeds in outlining the popularity and continuation of rock's appeal to America's young people.
Aquila takes his readers into the shadowy musical period between the Elvis revolution and the British Invasion and brilliantly uses underappreciated musicians—many of whom he interviewed—and music to illustrate the social and cultural history of the Kennedy era. This history rocks—turn it up!
Aquila takes his readers into the shadowy musical period between the Elvis revolution and the British Invasion and brilliantly uses underappreciated musicians—many of whom he interviewed—and music to illustrate the social and cultural history of the Kennedy era. This history rocks—turn it up!
Renowned popular music scholar Richard Aquila makes it crystal clear in this riveting account that 1959 was not the year the music tragically died, and the British Invasion of 1964 was not the moment it was reborn. Instead, he argues convincingly, 'the early 60s became one of the most important and innovative eras in rock history.' Drawing on interviews with many of the musical legends of that era he tells a story of a thriving music scene with much to teach us about the history of Cold War culture, civil rights, and feminism.
Renowned popular music scholar Richard Aquila makes it crystal clear in this riveting account that 1959 was not the year the music tragically died, and the British invasion of 1964 was not the moment it was reborn. Instead, he argues convincingly, 'the early 60s was one of the most important and innovative eras in rock & roll history.' Drawing on interviews with many of the musical legends of that era he tells a story of a thriving music scene with much to teach us about the history of Cold War culture, civil rights, and feminism.
Historian Richard Aquila has another top-ten hit headed for bookstores with his latest tome. The JFK era was one of forward-looking optimism by way of the space program, struggles as exemplified by growing public awareness of poverty and the civil rights movement, and wrenching tragedy when the young president was gunned down in Dallas. Aquila illustrates how the music of the early '60s inspired, consoled, and encouraged Baby Boomer teenagers as they moved through what would be a whirlpool of a decade.
Well-written and a pleasure to read. Rock & Roll in Kennedy's America helps define the contours of rock & roll music, which were ever-changing and influenced significantly by artists in rhythm and blues, soul, country music, mainstream pop, and many other genres. Aquila captures the variety and vitality of the music and provides excellent vignettes about the personalities and activities of the era. The oral histories he conducted with many figures from the era are especially vivid and welcome.
About
Book Details
Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
6.125
x 9.25
Pages
416
ISBN
9781421444987
Illustration Description
20 b&w photos
Table of Contents
Introduction: Only in America
Part I. New Directions for Early 60s Rock & Roll
Chapter 1. "It's Now or Never": Rock & Roll Enters a New Decade
Chapter 2. "What Does a Girl Do?" The Girl Group
Introduction: Only in America
Part I. New Directions for Early 60s Rock & Roll
Chapter 1. "It's Now or Never": Rock & Roll Enters a New Decade
Chapter 2. "What Does a Girl Do?" The Girl Group Revolution of the Early 60s
Chapter 3. "Heat Wave": Motown's Hot Sounds for Young America
Chapter 4. "Surfin' Safari": Surf Music, Car Songs, and the Mythic West
Part II. Old Styles Rock On
Chapter 5. "On Broadway": R&B Rock Takes Center Stage
Chapter 6. "Let's Have a Party!": Rockin' the Country
Chapter 7. "A Teenager in Love": Veteran Pop Rockers in the Early 60s
Chapter 8. "Take Good Care of My Baby": Pop Rock's Second Wave
Chapter 9. "Wild Weekend": Top Tunes, News, and Weather
Part III. Rockin' on the New Frontier
Chapter 10. "God, Country and My Baby": Rock & Roll and the Culture of the Cold War
Chapter 11. "This Magic Moment": Rock & Roll in Kennedy's America
Acknowledgments
Interviews
Notes
Index
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