Reference

We proudly present the fifth edition of Maurice J. Summerfield's highly acclaimed ultimate reference book on the classical guitar. This brand new book features all the original biographical entries updated with new photographs where applicable, plus 100 new biographical entries in the players, composers and makers section - for a total of over 485. This new edition gives the reader a full and clear picture of the classical guitar's development since the beginning of the nineteenth century. Also included are informative sections on composers, scholars, flamenco guitarists and guitar makers. The book's collection of several hundred photographs is the most complete to be published in one volume. There are extensive listings of the most important classical guitar recordings. The final section, Sources of Supply, guides readers to where they can obtain the books, recordings, music and magazines listed in the book. Without a doubt, this new edition will be the essential work of reference on the subject of classical guitar for years to come! My sincere congratulations to Maurice Summerfield. - Andrs Segovia

A comprehensive piano keyboard chart showing all 88 keys and note positions on corresponding staff lines and spaces.

In the 1950s and '60s, those shiny 45-rpm records with the big hole in the middle were the primary delivery system for popular American music, especially rock 'n' roll. Cheap to manufacture and available to even fly-by-night record operations, the donut disc changed the way popular music was written, recorded, promoted and marketed, and it broke - at least for a time - the iron-fisted dominance of the major record corporations. This book traces the 7-inch single's origins back to the 1880s, and explains the personality conflicts that led an eccentric genius to develop the 45 into one of postwar America's most popular consumer products. It explores how the jukebox, the autonomous disc jockey, and payola and artist rip-offs kept the 45 at the forefront of rock for 20 years. There are also chapters on the most valuable (and legendary) 45s of all time, as well as the oddities, oddballs and freak hits that make listening to 45s so much fun. With over 80 illustrations - many in full color.

Introduced in 1954 as one of Gretsch's Guitars of the Future, the White Falcon was an overwhelmingly impressive instrument. The influence of this spectacular new guitar spread to other models and guitar manufacturers. It was the dawn of a half-century of awe-inspiring guitars which are now favored by widely popular artists including Pete Townshend, Tom Petty, Alanis Morisette, Sheryl Crow, John Frusciante, Bo Diddley, and more. This book compiles the best of Gretsch's inventions over the past 50 years and tells the stories of their creation and the men who created them. Includes 100 photos! (8-1/2 inch. x 11 inch., 144 pages)

This exciting book documents the complete decade-by-decade story of one of the world's most important and influential electric guitars. The Gibson Les Paul turned 50 years old in 2002, and since its invention, its sweet, urgent sound has been used by a host of major rock players - from Eric Clapton in Cream to Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols, from Joe Walsh in The Eagles to Slash of Guns N'Roses. Unique color photographs feature a multitude of luscious Les Paul models and highlight great players in action with their Les Paul guitars. Meticulous listings for the collector document every model produced from 1952 to the present day. 50 Years of the Gibson Les Paul is a beautiful, detailed examination of six decades of great guitars and the fine musicians inspired to play them.

This handsome, insightful hardcover volume delves deep into the music of 88 visionaries who have made an indelible mark on the world of jazz through their mastery of the piano's 88 keys. This engaging collection describes the intriguing personality and performance characteristics of each pianist. Seven major figures are covered in depth: Jelly Roll Morton, Earl Hines, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Keith Jarrett and Cecil Taylor. Other featured artists include: James P. Johnson, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Oscar Peterson, Les McCann, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, Billy Taylor, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea and 70 others, in styles ranging from stride to swing, bebop to post-bop, funk to avant garde, and more. Includes 100 photos, and a foreword by Keith Jarrett. Like great solos, these essays have grace, wit, and a sense of personal involvement ... Immensely valuable stuff! - Dick Hyman

For more than 30 years, Grit Laskin has been building guitars, and his striking inlay work places his instruments in a class all their own. He is credited with single-handedly taking the ages-old tradition of musical instrument inlay from its purely decorative roots into an art form, a means of expression. In his hands, shell, stone, legal ivory and metal emerge as the palette of a re-invented medium. A sumptuous, full-color-throughout, coffee-table quality tome, this is the first book to document the breadth of his work and the techniques he has devised. Grit Laskin is the first and only musical instrument maker to receive Canada's prestigious Saidye Bronfman Award for Excellence. The Museum of Civilization, Canada's equivalent to the Smithsonian, has four Laskin guitars in its permanent collection. Includes an essay on the history of inlay by Chuck Erickson. Photography by Brian Pickell. (Grit's) work is more than adornment - it's mind-blowingly interesting. - Bob Taylor, Taylor Guitars

Now in Softcover! When Jeff Buckley drowned in Memphis in 1997, the music world lost one of its most original and promising voices. His 1994 debut LP Grace showcased his soaring vocals and fluid guitar playing, and was hailed as an instant classic. Photographer Merri Cyr was there from the beginning, shooting his album covers and accompanying him on tour, capturing Buckley's boundless charisma. This edition features an all-new photo section.

This great book/CD pack lets you explore the work of ten guitar heroes who span the entire acoustic-rock spectrum: Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Eagles, Tom Petty, Keith Richards, Paul Simon, Peter Buck, George Harrison, James Taylor and Pete Townshend. You'll discover the secrets of their picking and fingering styles, learn how they played their most famous lines, find out how they forged their unique styles, and get tips on miking and recording. The accompanying CD walks you note by note through licks that characterize the signature sounds of these world-class musicians. Just as these guitar greats have inspired one another, this book will inspire you. Also available: The Blues-Rock Masters, 00331011/$19.95

This is the definitive source for composers, compositions, and genres. The book contains over 500 composer and 800 performer biographies. Each artist entry includes vital statistics and album recommendations. The book covers thousands of compositions, including operas, symphonies, concertos, and ballets, and it includes 23 essays devoted to classical music's major eras, forms, and genres. Choral works, songs, keyboard works, chamber music, and film scores receive dedicated sections. Includes 4,000 descriptions of composers' works and 12,000 recordings recommended by All Music Guide editors.