Why read The Sound of the City?

Book cover of The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock and Roll

Book description

This comprehensive study of the rise of rock and roll from 1954 to 1971 has now been expanded with close to 100 illustrations as well as a new introduction, recommended listening section, and bibliography.

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Sound of the City as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Keith Wyatt

Author

When I started playing rock guitar in the ‘60s I had no idea that it was built on the innovations of African-American blues and Gospel artists. Sound of the City traces how those innovations evolved into the dominant strains of ‘50s rock & roll, including artists like Bill Haley, New Orleans dance music, Memphis rockabilly, Chicago R&B, and vocal (“doo-wop”) groups.

Gillette creates an extraordinarily detailed and very readable account of the music and musicians as well as a booming, often corrupt, and highly segregated music industry within a turbulent American social landscape. If you want to learn about American…

From Keith's list on The best books about blues and playing the blues guitar.