The roots of the blues : an African search / Samuel Charters.
| Author/creator | Charters, Samuel |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | New York : Putnam, 1982, ©1981. |
| Description | 151 pages, 8 pages of plates : illustrations, portraits ; 21 cm |
| Subjects |
| Contents | To the Gambia -- A mandingo jali -- "I can tell you the history of everything" -- A river place -- Toolongjong -- Some young griots -- Drums in the streets -- A meeting with slavery -- "The province of freedom" -- A Creole village -- The African blues roots -- A sense of something older -- The Bamako-Dakar International express -- A bridge over the Niger. |
| Abstract | "I went to Africa to find the roots of the blues." So Samuel Charters begins the extraordinary story of his research. But what began as a study of how the blues was handed down from African slaves to musicians of today via the slave ships, became something much more complex. The author discovered a music which was not just a part of the past but a very vital living part of African culture. This book not only reveals Charters's remarkable talent in discussing African folk music and its relationship with American blues; it demonstrates his power as a descriptive and narrative writer. Using extensive quotations of song lyrics and some remarkable photographs of the musicians, the author has created a unique contribution to our understanding of both African and American cultures and their music. |
| General note | "A Perigee book." |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references. |
| LCCN | 81015331 |
| ISBN | 0399505989 (pbk.) : |
| ISBN | 9780399505980 (pbk.) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Closed Stacks - Ask at Circulation Desk | ML3521.C5 R6 1982 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |