| |||||
Blue Monday: Fats Domino And the Lost Dawn of Rock 'n' Roll
Books: Computers: Mac Write: Item 2
|
Blue Monday: Fats Domino And the Lost Dawn of Rock 'n' Rollby Rick Coleman
|
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful: An instant classic of New Orleans rhythm and blues and Rock n' Roll, March 19, 2006 Reviewer:Peter J. Riley (Newburyport, MA USA) - I have been fortunate enough to read an advance of this great book. As a fairly knowledgeable and well read music fan this book was a real eye opener on the importance of Mr. Domino in the history of rock n' roll. Mr. Coleman does a tremendous job of not only revealing the stature of Fat's own work but also places it in rich gumbo that is the of history of New Orleans rhythm and blues and rock n' roll. Colman's deep devotion, love and knowledge of New Orleans indigenous music infuse this magnificent book. It is critical to note that Fats' as both a man and a musician is so deeply embedded in his beloved city of New Orleans that there would have been no way to properly write his story without giving it this context. Consequently we not only have the story of Fat's, we learn about the important contributions of arranger Dave Bartholomew, band leader Herbert Hardesty, the great New Orleans engineer and studio master Cosimo Matassa and dozens of other colorful folk that had a hand in the story. Extensive personal interviews with the principles and over 20 years of local research have gone into writing this fine story, i.e. this is NOT one of those "hit and run" professional, biographies. Overriding the narrative at hand is Mr. Coleman's premise (as implied in the title) that New Orleans is truly the birthplace of rock n' roll, and it is a point he makes with intelligence, force and wit. All this makes "Blue Monday: Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock 'n' Roll" required reading for not only fans of the GREAT Fats Domino but of students of rhythm and blues, rock n' roll and New Orleans music in general and will become, along with the works of John Broven, Jeff Hannusch and others required reading for all fans New Orleans rhythm and blues, rock n' roll and indeed of anyone interested in American roots or popular music.
From Publishers Weekly
"When people get started dancing and having a good time, they don't care what color you are," reflected Herbert Hardesty, one of Antoine "Fats" Domino's band members, on the ability of Domino's music to break through the color barrier in postwar America. It is a recurring theme in Coleman's biography, as are, not surprisingly, segregation and mainstream society's reception to rock 'n' roll, particularly songs by African Americans. Based on interviews and years of research, Coleman's book is well-written and full of lively details about life on the road, recording sessions and how things worked in Domino's inner circle. After making quick work of Domino's grandparents and childhood, Coleman begins a chronological journey through Domino's life, peppering his narrative with important events in music and the civil rights movement. Although Coleman touches lightly on some of Domino's irresponsible behavior-his drinking, womanizing and ambivalence to curtain times set the mold by which later rock stars would be cast-the book borders on hagiography. Also, Coleman's suggestions that the earliest African-American performers of rock 'n' roll are largely forgotten and that there still persists a myth that it all began with Elvis are outmoded at best. However, Coleman's book succeeds as a warm tribute to an American music icon.
Copyright © Reed business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Coleman launches the first book-length biography of a New Orleans legend by contending that Fats Domino's 1949 "thunderous rocker," "The Fat Man," has a more legitimate claim than Elvis Presley's "That's All Right" to being the first rock 'n' roll song. He argues that Domino's seminal role in rock history is underappreciated, and it's genuinely easy to agree with him. Coleman intertwines Domino's biography and the story of an American society changing in the 1940s and 1950s so that race and pop music often merged. Domino became a reliable hit maker on the mainstream charts and a smiling TV presence, which was then still odd for an African American. Fats' indomitable spirit pervades the book, even in discussions of his gambling problems, inspiriting the story of an excellent musician who provided a link between such older Crescent City R&B giants as Professor Longhair and young rockers like Ernie K-Doe. Fats Domino's story is central to rock history, making this a must for the pop music shelves. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Shop Bookstores:
Books
Resources
Most Watched Book Auctions
Mac Write at Sduf
News To Peruse
More Subjects
Book Review Directory
Reviewed Authors
Reviewed Titles
Review List
Site Map
