The Folk Music Revival, 19581970: Biographies of Fifty Performers and Other Influential People

The folk revival period dates from the period when folk music began to recover from the communist witch hunts of the 1950s. This book collects 6-12 page biographies of mainly American musicians and others involved in the folk music revival scene, giving details on the subject's career and brief background on early life, education, and family. Each biography also includes a discography. An introduction surveys trends and big names of the period, followed by a section of biographies of those behind the scenes, such as teachers, promoters, and scholars. The next section profiles 14 individuals who bridged the change from traditional material to a more personal perspective, including Dave Van Ronk, Judy Collins, and Doc Watson. Later sections offer biographies of politically and socially conscious singer-songwriters, including Odetta Holmes, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan, and influential groups and duos, from the Kinston Trio to The Lovin' Spoonful. A final section of biographies illustrates the influence of American folk on musicians in England, Canada, and Africa. Dicaire has written other books on musical history. Annotation 穢2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)