Caribbean Popular Music: An Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall

(Hardback)

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Description

Reggae music is more than just steel drum bands on white sand beaches. Its history is rich with culture and evolution, helping to tell the story of Jamaica's past. Due to its depth and extensive coverage, this book is the most complete and up to date encyclopedia about reggae, mento, ska, rocksteady, and dancehall music on the market today. Ideal for reggae lovers and college students studying music, this encyclopedia is comprehensive for high school students and non-music students as well. From Bob Marley to Wayne Wonder, this easy to use encyclopedia contains over 700 entries. Indices in both the front and back of the book make navigating through entries extremely user-friendly. Entries cover singers and songwriters, producers, record labels, and different styles of music that evolved from reggae. Moskowitz truly captures the history and evolution of Jamaican music in this extensive, illuminating encyclopedia, while all the while making it accessible to both high school and college students.

Reviews

Moskowitz does an admirable job of covering all periods of Jamaican popular music. People seeking to learn about everything from early mento music to reggae to dancehall to the most up-to-date style of ragga will not be dissapointed. More than 700 concise and informative entries discuss singers and songwriters, producers, record labels, and different musical styles that sprung from reggae.[t]his handy reference will appeal to scholars and music consumers alike, and comprehensive collections at both public and academic libaries would do well to purchase. * Library Journal *
David Moskowitz has not only succeeded in producing a beautiful and accessible reference work, but he has managed the more difficult task of trying to come to terms with the umbrella term of reggae which covers a whole range of musical styles imperative for any library that supports the teaching of music and the arts, or the history, politics and culture of the Caribbean and Rastafarianism. It is also essential for public libraries which serve a community that includes Caribbean descended patrons Although this is most definitely a reference work, it is very easy to get engrossed in the encyclopedic entries As a reference work it is exemplary, and, more unusually, it is an enjoyable read in its own right. * Reference Reviews *
The emphasis is understandably on Jamaican artists; however coverage includes other areas of the Caribbean, as well as successful reggae musicians in Great Britain and the United States. Dozens of cross references help sort the many aliases used by artists. The index allows the user to track the influence of particular artists and styles. A select bibliography and list of Web sites leads the user to other sources for research. This groundbreaking guide will be popular in high school, college and public libraries. * Lawrence Looks at Books *
Caribbean Popular Music provides insight into the lives of Caribbean musicians and the styles they have created over the last 50 years.In addition to musicians, this work sheds light on terms and styles unknown to many of us.Written in authoritative yet readable prose, Moskowitz's volume is appropriate for public and academic library collections. * Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin *
Moskowitz does a capable job of defining the various genres, instruments, and elements of Jamaican popular music and identifying artists both well known and obscure. Also covered are the recording labels and key venues for live performance. Cross-indexing and indexes in front and back make the book accesible. * MultiCultural Review *
Caribbean Popular Music: An Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall is perfect for college studies: while plenty of references have been written on the topic, none have embraced the full extent of Caribbean music history with an overall scholarly approach, providing annotations on figures ranging from Bob Marley to the drum and bass movement and the Flying Cymbal drumming technique.[i]ncludes all the background history necessary to fuel any report on the topic. * The Midwest Book Review/California Bookwatch *

Author Bio

DAVID V. MOSKOWITZ is an associate professor of musicology at the University of South Dakota.