John Broven’s critically acclaimed book Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneers will be published in paperback on Monday, February 22, 2010.  A sample of the praise:

“A fascinating new book about the early independent labels of rock ‘n’ roll underscores again the central role that radio played in turning rock ‘n’ roll into the musical language of modern American popular culture. Record Makers and Breakers … is a rich and engaging history of those early years, largely told through the words of the smart guys, hustlers and Runyonesque characters who shaped them.” —New York Daily News

“4 stars. Welcome to a world filled with payola, the mob and jukebox sounds.” —MOJO

“For academicians and R & B gourmands, this book is essential reading.” —DownBeat

“The depth of factual details is incredible, but it’s presented in the style of a rich oral history … so as not to lose any of the flavour of their anecdotes. . . . It’s a chronicle of the entrepreneurial American spirit, liberally punctuated by the creation of some of the most exciting and innovative music of all time.” — Record Collector

“Broven is masterful, making Record Makers an essential book for anyone interested in not only American musical culture but American culture, period.” —American Songwriter

“This is by far the most complete picture painted to date of the independent recording industry and it has the added advantage of illuminating many of the personalities who helped make that tick.”—Blue Suede News

“An invaluable addition to understanding American music and indispensable for those into pop music history.” —Jazz & Blues Report

“Covering the convoluted history of the recording industry from the 1940s to the 1960s, [Broven] combines in-depth archival research with fascinating anecdotes about chart-toppers, shady characters and label owners. . . . The impact of conniving entrepreneurs on the musicians and the layering of rich details and digressive detours as Broven traces the transition from R&B to rock make this equal to Roger D. Kinkle’s massive, four-volume Complete Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Jazz.” —Publishers Weekly

“Broven has put together a detailed and engrossing study of the independent record labels of the 1940s-70s. . . . An outstanding and important study that goes well beyond comparable predecessors; highly recommended.” —Library Journal (starred review)