Overview
The seven women profiled in this book differ in terms of background and experience but share the common thread of having been soul performers during the 1960s. Denise LaSalle, who started out as a songwriter and record label owner an then moved into singing; Ruby Johnson, who recorded on the legendary Stax label in Memphis; Carla Thomas, Stax's biggest female star and one of the most distinctive voices in all of soul; Bettye LaVette, a Detroit-based singer with an ardent European following; Barbara Mason, a pioneer of Philadelphia soul and one of the few female soul artists to have written nearly all her hits; Maxine Brown, who moved into soul after a career in gospel in the 1950s; Timi Yuro, a 'blue-eyed' soul singer whose gigantic voice earned her the praise of luminaries like Dinah Washington and Frank Sinatra;
Full Product Details
Author: David Freeland
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
Imprint: University Press of Mississippi
Dimensions:
Width: 15.20cm
, Height: 2.00cm
, Length: 22.90cm
Weight: 0.390kg
ISBN: 9781578063314
ISBN 10: 1578063310
Pages: 277
Publication Date: 30 March 2001
Audience:
General/trade
,
College/higher education
,
General
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
Freeland spent his youth hanging out at black radio stations, listening to the deejays' off-air talk and hearing stories about the women who sang soul. He never forgot those who didn't achieve the success of Aretha Franklin or Tina Turner and who haven't enjoyed any comebacks, and his book offers the oral histories of seven of them: Denise LaSalle, Ruby Johnson, Carla Thomas, Bettye LaVette, Barbara Mason, Maxine Brown, and Timi Yuro. He puts each in the context of the 1960s and the development of the music business, and his comments stitch together the words of his subjects as he explores the limitations on women's advancement in the business at the time and how attitudes on gender and race have changed since their heyday. The seven artists recall personal suffering, disappointments, missed opportunities, and triumphs. Some focus on social injustice as well, and many still hope for a comeback. Freeland's passion for soul music and the singers' poignant stories make this a captivating book.--Vanessa Bush Booklist
"Freeland spent his youth hanging out at black radio stations, listening to the deejays' off-air talk and hearing stories about the women who sang soul. He never forgot those who didn't achieve the success of Aretha Franklin or Tina Turner and who haven't enjoyed any comebacks, and his book offers the oral histories of seven of them: Denise LaSalle, Ruby Johnson, Carla Thomas, Bettye LaVette, Barbara Mason, Maxine Brown, and Timi Yuro. He puts each in the context of the 1960s and the development of the music business, and his comments stitch together the words of his subjects as he explores the limitations on women's advancement in the business at the time and how attitudes on gender and race have changed since their heyday. The seven artists recall personal suffering, disappointments, missed opportunities, and triumphs. Some focus on social injustice as well, and many still hope for a comeback. Freeland's passion for soul music and the singers' poignant stories make this a captivating book.--Vanessa Bush ""Booklist"""
Author Information
David Freeland is an historian and artistic adviser at Columbia University's Miller Theatre.
