The Later Swing Era, 1942 to 1955

(Hardback)

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Description

Today's Retro Swing bands, like the Squirrel Nut Zippers and the Brian Setzer Orchestra, all owe their inspiration to the original masters of Swing. This rich reference details the oeuvre of the leading Swing musicians from the WWII and post-WWII years. Chapters on the masters of Swing (Ella Fitzgerald, Woody Herman, Billy Strayhorn), the legendary Big Band leaders (such as Les Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Vaughan Monroe, etc.), vocalists (including Cab Calloway, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington), and Small Groups (Louis Jordan, Art Tatum, Charlie Ventura, etc.) introduce these timeless musicians to a new generation of musicians and music fans. An opening chapter recounts how the cultural changes during the war and postwar years affected performers-especially women and African-Americans-and an A-to-Z appendix provides synopses of almost 700 entrants, including related musicians and famous venues. A bibliography and subject index provide additional tools for those researching Swing music and its many roles in mid-century American culture. This volume is a perfect sequel to Dave Oliphant's The Early Swing Era: 1930 to 1941. Together, these books provide the perfect reference guide to an enduring form of American music.

Reviews

[H]ighly recommended for specialty collections....[p]rovides an in-depth and wide-ranging reference to Swing musicians from World War II and beyond. Organized by genre for easy access, from vocalists to big band leaders, The Later Swing Era, 1942-55 includes both musical and cultural background details essential to understanding how the music evolved and changed.-MBR Internet Bookwatch/The Bookwatch
[T]his is a book about the music and artists emerging from the early swing era; understood as such, it is a reasonable resource if not a treatment of the complete music scene. Recommended. All audiences.-Choice
"Highly recommended for specialty collections....provides an in-depth and wide-ranging reference to Swing musicians from World War II and beyond. Organized by genre for easy access, from vocalists to big band leaders, The Later Swing Era, 1942-55 includes both musical and cultural background details essential to understanding how the music evolved and changed."-MBR Internet Bookwatch/The Bookwatch
"This is a book about the music and artists emerging from the early swing era; understood as such, it is a reasonable resource if not a treatment of the complete music scene. Recommended. All audiences."-Choice
"[T]his is a book about the music and artists emerging from the early swing era; understood as such, it is a reasonable resource if not a treatment of the complete music scene. Recommended. All audiences."-Choice
"[H]ighly recommended for specialty collections....[p]rovides an in-depth and wide-ranging reference to Swing musicians from World War II and beyond. Organized by genre for easy access, from vocalists to big band leaders, The Later Swing Era, 1942-55 includes both musical and cultural background details essential to understanding how the music evolved and changed."-MBR Internet Bookwatch/The Bookwatch

Author Bio

LAWRENCE MCCLELLAN JR. is Dean of the Professional Education Division at the Berklee College of Music. He has performed as a trombonist with such artists as Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Glen Campbell, and Nancy Wilson.