Reference

DownBeat magazine (est. 1939), the bible of jazz, blues, and beyond, proudly launches the first book in its DownBeat Hall of Fame Series. DownBeat has documented Miles Davis's career like no other journal in the world. From Davis's first DownBeat interview in 1950 to his death in 1991, the magazine captured each nuance and phase of his career through cover stories, features, news items, and reviews. This book is a long-overdue compilation of everything DownBeat magazine has written about Miles Davis, a book packed with glimpses into the artist's career as it happened - from the polite young trumpeter making a name for himself, to the bombastic innovator, to the near mythic legend. It's a must-read for anyone interested in perhaps the most enigmatic and enduring star in jazz history.

Manufactured at the end of the 1950s, the original sunburst Gibson Les Paul - known as the Burst - is the most celebrated electric guitar of all time. This book by renowned historian Tony Bacon explores why these instruments have become so desirable. It takes readers from a factory in Kalamazoo, through the British blues scene of the '60s, to today's salesrooms and concert stages.

Here is the revised edition of the world's bestselling disc jockey book, which has helped many thousands of mobiles to build their business and incomes. Thoroughly updated, this new volume covers the nuts-and-bolts issues that so often evade newcomers, and is a vital reference for experienced pros. Topics covered include: new equipment, technology, performance, professionalism, sales and marketing, clients and employees, dances and games, booking opportunities, tips from top DJ business owners and more, plus sample contracts, forms and brochures. The Mobile DJ Handbook walks you through the process of starting, developing and expanding a lucrative mobile music service.

Following the release of The Early Years..., which Vintage Guitar magazine called carefully crafted ... lavishly illustrated, this full-color book continues the amazing journey of an American icon's recording career and the coveted instruments that bear his name. Beginning with the collectible late '60s models, The Modern Les Paul Legacy moves on to the '70s and '80s special-themed instruments-showing all popular artist models, like Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, and Slash, in living color. And the holy grail '59 Sunburst and the jaw-dropping Custom Shop creations of the '90s receive their due as achievements that have never, to this day, been surpassed. The book also covers Les Paul's resurgence-the comeback Grammy Award-winning album with Chet Atkins, the start of a weekly gig in a New York City jazz club (still on!), and the reconnection with the Gibson family. His lifetime achievement awards keep piling up, and an all-star party seems to emerge every time he hits another birthday milestone. Bringing this great innovator's story up to date, and featuring previously unpublished material from photojournalist Robb Lawrence, The Modern Les Paul Legacy is a must-have for music fans.

The Moderne is an electric guitar designed by Gibson in 1957 alongside the Flying V and Explorer as part of a stylistically advanced line. Sources claim that Gibson made a handful of prototypes, but an original has yet to surface. The Moderne was eventually put into production in 1982. Because of their very limited production and forward design, Modernes are highly sought by collectors. Here is the story, explained in interviews and photos, of this curious development associated with the golden era of guitar making.

Legendary for their construction and longevity, Music Man amps have earned the trust and respect of musicians worldwide. The company was the brainchild of industry vets Leo Fender, Forrest White, and Tom Walker. This book examines the latter - the company's genius chief pilot/navigator - particularly during the productive epoch from 1978 to 1982.

For anyone planning a career in the music business, Navigating the Music Industry is an excellent introduction to all the issues facing artists today. It combines the myriad talents of teachers, lawyers and musicians to provide a comprehensive overview of the industry. The first half of the book, Controversial Issues, concentrates on the music side of this world - everything from censorship to regional music scenes to the future of country music to the debate between indie and major labels. The second half, Business Models, looks at the business side, and contains many tips about the practical side of the music industry - using internet content, budgets & breakevens, tax issues, when to incorporate and why, and much more. Simply put, Navigating the Music Industry is the most complete book on the subject to date. Previously announced as What's Going On?: Current Issues in the Music Business.

First time in Paperback! Noel Coward and Cole Porter's fascinating lives celebrated. Fresh on the heels of the popular motion picture based on Cole Porter's life called De-Lovely, Noel and Cole presents a fresh and often surprising portrait of these two geniuses. The author provides insight into both men's private lives - including a frank discussion of their homosexuality - while illuminating their musical achievements. Born an ocean apart - one in Indiana, the other in England - Cole Porter and Noel Coward have come to represent the ultimate in sophistication and urbanity. Noel and Cole will be an essential reference as well as a fascinating dual biography of two men who brought style and dazzle to the art of popular entertainment. Based on access to previously unpublished manuscripts, lyrics, scores, and letters, plus dozens of interviews Includes a chronology and a fifty-page section devoted to the analysis of select works

Pioneering, gutsy, innovative, and inspiring are some characteristics of women who have shaped modern popular music. In this book, Jay Warner traces the evolution of these women, from the stages of vaudeville and the blues saloons of the South to the whirlwind of Woodstock and the star factory of American Idol. They're all here -- the glamorous torchers, hit paraders, rock rebels, protest singer, and pop divas. Both a celebration and a resource, this rich volume gathers and threads together the countless contributions made by such artists as Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Pat Benatar, Chrissie Hynde, Madonna, Whitney Houston, the Dixie Chicks, Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys and others. In a decade-by-decade format, Notable Moments of Women in Music clearly illustrates the story of these stars - how they influenced music, culture, and each other.