Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

Icons of Rock: An Encyclopedia of Legends Who Changed Music Forever, edited by Scott Schinder and Andy Schwartz. 2 vols. 639p. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2008. 978-0-313-33845-8; 2007-40132. $175.

In the summer of 1966, Linda Keith, the girlfriend of Keith Richards, was spending the summer in New York while the Rolling Stones were touring the country. One night, she was so impressed by the antics of a young guitarist performing in a band called “Curtis Knight and the Squires,” that she suggested he quit the group and form a band of his own. Jimmy James and the Blue Flames were soon performing in clubs in Greenwich Village. Fields kept up her encouragement taking the manager of the Stones and the president of Sire Records to see the group perform. However, it was not until she took Chas Chandler, the English bassist for the highly successful Animals, did she find an industry insider who was as enthusiastic about the new talent as Keith. Chandler quit his band at the height its success and returned to New York a month later to become manager for the young Jimi Hendrix. Chandler took Hendrix back to Britain to build his career; and thus, one might say a star was born. The reality was that by that time Hendrix had already amassed a very respectable resume as a sideman, including stints with Little Richard, the Isley Brothers and as Ike and Tina Turner. However, he had never pursued leading his own ensemble nor writing his own material. Keith’s conviction in promoting Hendrix and finding him professional management made a huge difference in his career and the history of rock music. Under Chandler’s guidance, Hendrix would begin to experiment with writing as well as playing.

This marriage of talent, encouragement and opportunity is just one examples of music history that this new biographical dictionary illuminates. From Elvis Presley to Nirvana, the 24 detailed essays spotlight the careers of leading contributors to the development of rock and roll. Each entry describes the background and early careers of an artist or group, their introduction to music, training and beginnings in the recording industry. Coverage includes discussion of influences, stylistic choices, major compositions and both critical and popular receptions of their work. Personal and creative relationships are described in detail, as are business difficulties and successes. Each entry also includes a brief timeline, discography and list of suggested readings. Occasional sidebars highlight competing artists and contemporary movements. Coverage ranges from the pioneering Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly, through such sixties giants as the Beatles, Dylan, the Rolling Stones and the Who, to the Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. While the selection emphasizes the first three decades of rock and roll, U2 and Nirvana represent the eighties and nineties. Reflecting the slanted historical makeup of commercial rock music, the overall selection is heavily white and male, with Joni Mitchell being the sole female artist presented. The publisher’s companion set, Icons of R & B and Soul (Greenwood, 2008), provides more detailed discussion of rock’s African-American roots The two sets overlap in their coverage of Ray Charles and James Brown. Together both sets offer a substantial introduction to the works of individuals who genuinely changed the face of popular music. These sets will serve a wide range of audiences from high school to adult.
—John R.M. Lawrence