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Great God a'Mighty! the Dixie Hummingbirds : Celebrating the Rise of Soul Gospel Music by Jerry Zolten (2003, Hardcover)
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- Buy it nowGreat God A'Mighty! the Dixie Hummingbirds: Celebrating the Rise of Soul Gospel
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About this product
Product Identifiers
PublisherOxford University Press, Incorporated
ISBN-100195152727
ISBN-139780195152722
eBay Product ID (ePID)2308478
Product Key Features
Book TitleGreat God A'mighty! the Dixie Hummingbirds : Celebrating the Rise of Soul Gospel Music
Number of Pages384 Pages
LanguageEnglish
TopicCultural Heritage, Religious / Gospel, Composers & Musicians
Publication Year2003
IllustratorYes
GenreMusic, Biography & Autobiography
AuthorJerry Zolten
FormatHardcover
Dimensions
Item Height1.1 in
Item Weight24.7 Oz
Item Length6.3 in
Item Width9.6 in
Additional Product Features
Intended AudienceTrade
LCCN2002-005453
Dewey Edition23
Reviews"This intriguing, fast-moving history is highly recommended for anyone interested in music, social history, gospel, or the American experience."--Library Journal, "Zolten fluently unfolds this story, with its sundry subplots and themes. His descriptions of music are evocative, and he neither minimizes nor exaggerates the gospel world's fierce moral and showbiz competitiveness. He shows how, like all the top-flight gospel quartets, the Birds drilled on staging and presentation as well as music.... He makes a case that The Dixie Hummingbirds were exemplars and conveyors of cultural and musical change."--New York Times Book Review "This intriguing, fast-moving history is highly recommended for anyone interested in music, social history, gospel, or the American experience."--Library Journal "In this excellent history, Zolten carefully and lovingly details the almost 75-year history of the Hummingbirds, from their start in the Depression to their induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000. This is a fine exploration of an important style and era in the history of American popular music and culture."--Publishers Weekly "A fabulously entertaining story of the Birds--and it's all here: the 1928 organization, 1938 addition of Ira Tucker, name changes in the early 1940s, Café Society in 1942, collaboration with Angelic Gospel Singers in 1950, Go Out of the Program in 1953, the Apollo Theatre in 1956, Newport Festivals in 1966 and 1972, Loves Me Like a Rock in 1973, and full-fledged concerts into the 1990s. This is an extraordinary and welcomed addition to African American gospel music history."--Horace Clarence Boyer, author of The Golden Age of Gospel, "The 'Birds' story is also the story of black entertainment slowly entering the American pop-cultural mainstream.... Welcome this book with its generous discography to the pop-music shelves."--Booklist, "A fabulously entertaining story of the Birds--and it's all here: the 1928 organization, 1938 addition of Ira Tucker, name changes in the early 1940s, Cafe Society in 1942, collaboration with Angelic Gospel Singers in 1950, Go Out of the Program in 1953, the Apollo Theatre in 1956, NewportFestivals in 1966 and 1972, Loves Me Like a Rock in 1973, and full-fledged concerts into the 1990s. This is an extraordinary and welcomed addition to African American gospel music history."--Horace Clarence Boyer, author of The Golden Age of Gospel, "Zolten fluently unfolds this story, with its sundry subplots and themes. His descriptions of music are evocative, and he neither minimizes nor exaggerates the gospel world's fierce moral and showbiz competitiveness. He shows how, like all the top-flight gospel quartets, the Birds drilled on staging and presentation as well as music.... He makes a case that The Dixie Hummingbirds were exemplars and conveyors of cultural and musical change."--New York Times Book Review"This intriguing, fast-moving history is highly recommended for anyone interested in music, social history, gospel, or the American experience."--Library Journal"In this excellent history, Zolten carefully and lovingly details the almost 75-year history of the Hummingbirds, from their start in the Depression to their induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000. This is a fine exploration of an important style and era in the history of American popular music and culture."--Publishers Weekly"A fabulously entertaining story of the Birds--and it's all here: the 1928 organization, 1938 addition of Ira Tucker, name changes in the early 1940s, Café Society in 1942, collaboration with Angelic Gospel Singers in 1950, Go Out of the Program in 1953, the Apollo Theatre in 1956, Newport Festivals in 1966 and 1972, Loves Me Like a Rock in 1973, and full-fledged concerts into the 1990s. This is an extraordinary and welcomed addition to African American gospel music history."--Horace Clarence Boyer, author of The Golden Age of Gospel, "Zolten fluently unfolds this story, with its sundry subplots and themes.His descriptions of music are evocative, and he neither minimizes norexaggerates the gospel world's fierce moral and showbiz competitiveness. Heshows how, like all the top-flight gospel quartets, the Birds drilled on stagingand presentation as well as music.... He makes a case that The DixieHummingbirds were exemplars and conveyors of cultural and musical change."--NewYork Times Book Review, "In this excellent history, Zolten carefully and lovingly details thealmost 75-year history of the Hummingbirds, from their start in the Depressionto their induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000. This is a fineexploration of an important style and era in the history of American popularmusic and culture."--Publishers Weekly, "This intriguing, fast-moving history is highly recommended for anyoneinterested in music, social history, gospel, or the Americanexperience."--Library Journal, "Zolten fluently unfolds this story, with its sundry subplots and themes. His descriptions of music are evocative, and he neither minimizes nor exaggerates the gospel world's fierce moral and showbiz competitiveness. He shows how, like all the top-flight gospel quartets, the Birds drilled on staging and presentation as well as music.... He makes a case that The Dixie Hummingbirds were exemplars and conveyors of cultural and musical change."--New York TimesBook Review"This intriguing, fast-moving history is highly recommended for anyone interested in music, social history, gospel, or the American experience."--Library Journal"In this excellent history, Zolten carefully and lovingly details the almost 75-year history of the Hummingbirds, from their start in the Depression to their induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000. This is a fine exploration of an important style and era in the history of American popular music and culture."--Publishers Weekly"A fabulously entertaining story of the Birds--and it's all here: the 1928 organization, 1938 addition of Ira Tucker, name changes in the early 1940s, Café Society in 1942, collaboration with Angelic Gospel Singers in 1950, Go Out of the Program in 1953, the Apollo Theatre in 1956, Newport Festivals in 1966 and 1972, Loves Me Like a Rock in 1973, and full-fledged concerts into the 1990s. This is an extraordinary and welcomed addition to African Americangospel music history."--Horace Clarence Boyer, author of The Golden Age of Gospel"Zolten fluently unfolds this story, with its sundry subplots and themes. His descriptions of music are evocative, and he neither minimizes nor exaggerates the gospel world's fierce moral and showbiz competitiveness. He shows how, like all the top-flight gospel quartets, the Birds drilled on staging and presentation as well as music.... He makes a case that The Dixie Hummingbirds were exemplars and conveyors of cultural and musical change."--New York TimesBook Review"This intriguing, fast-moving history is highly recommended for anyone interested in music, social history, gospel, or the American experience."--Library Journal"In this excellent history, Zolten carefully and lovingly details the almost 75-year history of the Hummingbirds, from their start in the Depression to their induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000. This is a fine exploration of an important style and era in the history of American popular music and culture."--Publishers Weekly"The 'Birds' story is also the story of black entertainment slowly entering the American pop-cultural mainstream.... Welcome this book with its generous discography to the pop-music shelves."--Booklist"A fabulously entertaining story of the Birds--and it's all here: the 1928 organization, 1938 addition of Ira Tucker, name changes in the early 1940s, Café Society in 1942, collaboration with Angelic Gospel Singers in 1950, Go Out of the Program in 1953, the Apollo Theatre in 1956, Newport Festivals in 1966 and 1972, Loves Me Like a Rock in 1973, and full-fledged concerts into the 1990s. This is an extraordinary and welcomed addition to African Americangospel music history."--Horace Clarence Boyer, author of The Golden Age of Gospel, "Zolten fluently unfolds this story, with its sundry subplots and themes. His descriptions of music are evocative, and he neither minimizes nor exaggerates the gospel world's fierce moral and showbiz competitiveness. He shows how, like all the top-flight gospel quartets, the Birds drilled on staging and presentation as well as music.... He makes a case that The Dixie Hummingbirds were exemplars and conveyors of cultural and musical change."-- New York Times Book Review "This intriguing, fast-moving history is highly recommended for anyone interested in music, social history, gospel, or the American experience."-- Library Journal "In this excellent history, Zolten carefully and lovingly details the almost 75-year history of the Hummingbirds, from their start in the Depression to their induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000. This is a fine exploration of an important style and era in the history of American popular music and culture."-- Publishers Weekly "A fabulously entertaining story of the Birds--and it's all here: the 1928 organization, 1938 addition of Ira Tucker, name changes in the early 1940s, Café Society in 1942, collaboration with Angelic Gospel Singers in 1950, Go Out of the Program in 1953, the Apollo Theatre in 1956, Newport Festivals in 1966 and 1972, Loves Me Like a Rock in 1973, and full-fledged concerts into the 1990s. This is an extraordinary and welcomed addition to African American gospel music history."--Horace Clarence Boyer, author of The Golden Age of Gospel, "In this excellent history, Zolten carefully and lovingly details the almost 75-year history of the Hummingbirds, from their start in the Depression to their induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000. This is a fine exploration of an important style and era in the history ofAmerican popular music and culture."--Publishers Weekly, "Zolten fluently unfolds this story, with its sundry subplots and themes. His descriptions of music are evocative, and he neither minimizes nor exaggerates the gospel world's fierce moral and showbiz competitiveness. He shows how, like all the top-flight gospel quartets, the Birds drilled on staging and presentation as well as music.... He makes a case that The Dixie Hummingbirds were exemplars and conveyors of cultural and musical change."--New York Times Book Review "This intriguing, fast-moving history is highly recommended for anyone interested in music, social history, gospel, or the American experience."--Library Journal "In this excellent history, Zolten carefully and lovingly details the almost 75-year history of the Hummingbirds, from their start in the Depression to their induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000. This is a fine exploration of an important style and era in the history of American popular music and culture."--Publishers Weekly "A fabulously entertaining story of the Birds--and it's all here: the 1928 organization, 1938 addition of Ira Tucker, name changes in the early 1940s, Caf Society in 1942, collaboration with Angelic Gospel Singers in 1950, Go Out of the Program in 1953, the Apollo Theatre in 1956, Newport Festivals in 1966 and 1972, Loves Me Like a Rock in 1973, and full-fledged concerts into the 1990s. This is an extraordinary and welcomed addition to African American gospel music history."--Horace Clarence Boyer, author ofThe Golden Age of Gospel, "Zolten fluently unfolds this story, with its sundry subplots and themes. His descriptions of music are evocative, and he neither minimizes nor exaggerates the gospel world's fierce moral and showbiz competitiveness. He shows how, like all the top-flight gospel quartets, the Birds drilled onstaging and presentation as well as music.... He makes a case that The Dixie Hummingbirds were exemplars and conveyors of cultural and musical change."--New York Times Book Review, "A fabulously entertaining story of the Birds--and it's all here: the 1928organization, 1938 addition of Ira Tucker, name changes in the early 1940s, CafeSociety in 1942, collaboration with Angelic Gospel Singers in 1950, Go Out ofthe Program in 1953, the Apollo Theatre in 1956, Newport Festivals in 1966 and1972, Loves Me Like a Rock in 1973, and full-fledged concerts into the 1990s.This is an extraordinary and welcomed addition to African American gospel musichistory."--Horace Clarence Boyer, author of The Golden Age of Gospel, "The 'Birds' story is also the story of black entertainment slowlyentering the American pop-cultural mainstream.... Welcome this book with itsgenerous discography to the pop-music shelves."--Booklist, "Zolten fluently unfolds this story, with its sundry subplots and themes. His descriptions of music are evocative, and he neither minimizes nor exaggerates the gospel world's fierce moral and showbiz competitiveness. He shows how, like all the top-flight gospel quartets, the Birds drilled on staging and presentation as well as music.... He makes a case that The Dixie Hummingbirds were exemplars and conveyors of cultural and musical change."--New York Times Book Review "This intriguing, fast-moving history is highly recommended for anyone interested in music, social history, gospel, or the American experience."--Library Journal "In this excellent history, Zolten carefully and lovingly details the almost 75-year history of the Hummingbirds, from their start in the Depression to their induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000. This is a fine exploration of an important style and era in the history of American popular music and culture."--Publishers Weekly "A fabulously entertaining story of the Birds--and it's all here: the 1928 organization, 1938 addition of Ira Tucker, name changes in the early 1940s, CafSociety in 1942, collaboration with Angelic Gospel Singers in 1950, Go Out of the Program in 1953, the Apollo Theatre in 1956, Newport Festivals in 1966 and 1972, Loves Me Like a Rock in 1973, and full-fledged concerts into the 1990s. This is an extraordinary and welcomed addition to African American gospel music history."--Horace Clarence Boyer, author of The Golden Age of Gospel
Dewey Decimal782.2540922
SynopsisFrom the Jim Crow world of 1920s Greenville, South Carolina, to Greenwich Village's Café Society in the '40s, to their 1974 Grammy-winning collaboration on "Loves Me Like a Rock," the Dixie Hummingbirds have been one of gospel's most durable and inspiring groups. Now, Jerry Zolten tells the Hummingbirds' fascinating story and with it the story of a changing music industry and a changing nation. When James Davis and his high-school friends starting singing together in a rural South Carolina church they could not have foreseen the road that was about to unfold before them. They began a ten-year jaunt of "wildcatting," traveling from town to town, working local radio stations, schools, and churches, struggling to make a name for themselves. By 1939 the a cappella singers were recording their four-part harmony spirituals on the prestigious Decca label. By 1942 they had moved north to Philadelphia and then New York where, backed by Lester Young's band, they regularly brought the house down at the city's first integrated nightclub, Café Society. From there the group rode a wave of popularity that would propel them to nation-wide tours, major record contracts, collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon, and a career still vibrant today as they approach their seventy-fifth anniversary. Drawing generously on interviews with Hank Ballard, Otis Williams, and other artists who worked with the Hummingbirds, as well as with members James Davis, Ira Tucker, Howard Carroll, and many others, The Dixie Hummingbirds brings vividly to life the growth of a gospel group and of gospel music itself., From the Jim Crow world of 1920s Greenville, South Carolina, to Greenwich Village's Cafe Society in the '40s, to their 1974 Grammy-winning collaboration on "Loves Me Like a Rock," the Dixie Hummingbirds have been one of gospel's most durable and inspiring groups. Now, Jerry Zolten tells the Hummingbirds' fascinating story and with it the story of a changing music industry and a changing nation. When James Davis and his high-school friends starting singing together in a rural South Carolina church they could not have foreseen the road that was about to unfold before them. They began a ten-year jaunt of "wildcatting," traveling from town to town, working local radio stations, schools, and churches, struggling to make a name for themselves. By 1939 the a cappella singers were recording their four-part harmony spirituals on the prestigious Decca label. By 1942 they had moved north to Philadelphia and then New York where, backed by Lester Young's band, they regularly brought the house down at the city's first integrated nightclub, Cafe Society. From there the group rode a wave of popularity that would propel them to nation-wide tours, major record contracts, collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon, and a career still vibrant today as they approach their seventy-fifth anniversary. Drawing generously on interviews with Hank Ballard, Otis Williams, and other artists who worked with the Hummingbirds, as well as with members James Davis, Ira Tucker, Howard Carroll, and many others, The Dixie Hummingbirds brings vividly to life the growth of a gospel group and of gospel music itself."
LC Classification NumberML394.Z65 2003
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- 05 Dec, 2019
Title sums it all up.
This is an outstanding literary piece on one of the world's greatest gospel singing groups, very in depth.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
