Author Description

The history of rhythm and blues is uniquely documented and illustrated from primary source materials in the critically acclaimed First Pressings series of books. Each volume provides a month-by-month account of the key articles, news stories, feature columns, and record releases in a given year during the music's most vital and musically active era. Hundreds of authentic illustrations include reproductions of vintage record company ads and artist publicity photos. A comprehensive index enables readers to locate specific mentions of record artists, disk jockeys, and talent managers, as well as music companies, nightclubs, theatres, and radio stations which helped promote R&B into the American cultural mainstream. Trace the month-by-month activities of artists like the Coasters, Little Richard, Otis Rush, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, the Five Keys, Junior Parker, Frankie Lymon, Billy Ward and hundreds more. The 1955 volume covers a pivotal year in the development of R&B and rock and roll, including a November 26 story headlined "Presley signs with RCA Victor"...