PopMatters has posted an excerpt from Murphy Hicks Henry’s book about influential and often overlooked women in bluegrass, Pretty Good for a Girl. The first book devoted entirely to women in bluegrass, […]
Category: music
Happy birthday, Charlie Parker
Jazz giant Charlie “Bird” Parker was born on August 29, 1920 in Kansas City. During his short life—he died at age 34—Parker became one of the most influential figures in […]
Q&A with In Her Own Words author Jennifer Kelly
Jennifer Kelly is director of choral activities and associate professor of music at Lafayette College, Pennsylvania, she is also the artistic director of the Concord Chamber Singers and the author of […]
New Editor Appointed for American Music
We’re very pleased to announce that Michael Pisani will be the next Editor of our journal, American Music, beginning in January 2014. Pisani, a renowned scholar, author, pianist, and conductor, brings […]
Remembering jazz pianist and author Marian McPartland
Jazz performer and musical ambassador Marian McPartland, passed away this week at her home in Port Washington, N.Y. at age 95. In addition to a performance career that took off […]
Happy birthday to Ola Belle Reed
Although there is some slight dispute over her exact birthday, records say Ola Belle Campbell Reed, was born on August 18, 1916, in Lansing, North Carolina. She was the fourth of […]
Q&A with Charles Ives in the Mirror author David C. Paul
David C. Paul is an assistant professor of musicology and theory at the University of California, Santa Barbara and author of Charles Ives in the Mirror: American Histories of an […]
Happy birthday to bluegrass pioneer Rose Maddox
Rose Maddox, the lead singer of America’s “most colorful hillbilly band” the Maddox Brothers and Rose, was born on August 15, 1925. Rose went from very modest beginnings to fronting […]
Q&A with James Doering author of The Great Orchestrator
James M. Doering is a professor of music at Randolph-Macon College and author of The Great Orchestrator: Arthur Judson and American Arts Management. We asked him a few questions about […]
George Szell the teacher
Orchestra and opera conductor George Szell was known not only for his prolific career and innovations, but also for his tempestuous personality. Referred to, even in his obituary, as a “tyrant of […]
Some Southern Soul Blues in Chicago
Chicago’s legendary Blues Festival kicks off today in Millennium Park. Friday’s Grant Park headliner is Bobby Rush, a prominent figure in the book Southern Soul Blues. Author David Whiteis describes […]
Q&A with Yellow Power Yellow Soul editor Tamara Roberts
Musician and activist Fred Ho has inspired many people in many ways. His avant-garde saxophone playing and composition has pushed the boundaries of jazz music. His infusion of political theory […]