This is the first comprehensive reference work on Australian music. With just over 1400 entries written by 125 authorities on the subject, the dictionary covers a wide spectrum of topics, from ancient Aboriginal traditions and European-derived orchestral, operatic, and concert music, to Australian folk, jazz, country, popular, rock, electronic, and experimental music. There are entries on major historical and contemporary figures, including those who have achieved worldwide fame, such as Peter Allen, Percy Grainger, Peggy Glanville-Hicks, Kylie Minogue, Barry Tuckwell, Charles Mackerras, and the three great divas: Nellie Melba, Joan Hammond, and Joan Sutherland. Leading orchestras and ensembles are represented, as well as major pop and rock groups, among them the Seekers, the Bee Gees, AC/DC, and Midnight Oil. In addition to entries on individual composers, performers, and musical works and instruments, the dictionary covers leading musicologists, critics, broadcasters, educators, and researchers. The dictionary thus considers and reflects the diversity of music on the Australian continent.
Country music features over 700 biographical entries of musicians, comedians, producers, singer/songwriters, and groups. Among them are current performers such as Billy Ray Cyrus and Faith Hill, and those that made history or are historical such as Carolina Tar Heels. Most of the biographical entries include a select discography. Despite its subtitle, the dictionary also offers about 40 subject entries, on song categories such as weepers (songs dripping with heavy sentiment), instruments such as the pedal steel guitar and the banjo, locales such as the Grand Ole Opry, subjects such as the radio, and subgenres such as countrypolitan. A few entries on musical styles are included, among them bluegrass, gospel, honky-tonk, and rockabilly. Indeed, Country music highlights the inclusiveness of country music’s connections to folk, rock, Tejano, and other roots genres. Broader aspects of the country music landscape such as record labels, social commentary, and politics are addressed as well, deepening the encompassing approach. The volume contains more than 70 photos which accompany select entries. Cross-referencing allows readers to unravel threads of related entries. Two appendices organize performers and other notables according to subgenres they are associated with and by the instruments that they play. The select bibliography, listing some 150 publications, provides solid coverage of popular and scholarly secondary sources on country music. A comprehensive name index includes song and album titles.
Latin music: Musicians, genres, and themes provides an in-depth exploration of the rich and diverse world of Latin music, examining its history, cultural significance, and the wide range of genres it encompasses. The encyclopedia covers the evolution of Latin music from its roots in Indigenous, African, and European traditions to its contemporary global influence. It offers detailed profiles of influential musicians, including iconic figures such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, and Carlos Santana, shedding light on their contributions to the development of Latin music and their lasting legacies. The two volumes delve into key genres like salsa, merengue, bachata, tango, and reggaetón, discussing their origins, stylistic characteristics, and cultural impact across different Latin American countries and communities. In addition to genre exploration, Latin music touches on broader themes such as identity, migration, and the ways in which Latin music has become a vehicle for social and political expression. The 244 entries also include socio-political factors that have shaped Latin music’s growth and dissemination. This is a key resource for music researchers looking to understand the musical traditions, key figures, and cultural contexts that have defined Latin music and its enduring global appeal.
The encyclopedia of Australian rock and pop embeds a brief history of pop and rock musical developments Down Under with a wealth of information on personalities, bands, and institutions. This second edition has been completely revised and updated, adding over 160 new articles to the previous 870 entries. With articles on AC/DC, The Avalanches, Olivia Newton-John, and Guy Sebastian, as well as You Am I and Zoot, it is the most comprehensive guide to artists who molded Australian popular music from 1956 to 2016. Each article contains biographical information, line-up details, record releases, career highlights, and album discographies, as well as an authoritative critique on each artist’s career. Major entries have references for further reading. This comprehensive approach makes transparent the impact of singers and bands such as Johnny O'Keefe, Marcie Jones, and The Delltones; Sherbet and Daddy Cool, and Human Nature; and personalities such as Darryl Cotton, Johnny Young, Tina Arena, and Kylie Minogue. There is extensive coverage of those who have had long-standing local careers, such as John Farnham, Jimmy Barnes, and Col Joye; those who have enjoyed significant international careers, such as Rick Springfield, Helen Reddy, and The Bee Gees; as well as recognition of lesser-known live bands, such as the eccentrically named The Band Who Shot Liberty Valance, and bands who may not have recorded but still made a contribution to Australian popular music history. The attention to detail reveals itself in facts such as former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating managing a 1960s rock band. This is an essential work of reference for anyone seeking information on Australian popular music and its impact abroad. A bibliography is included at the end of the encyclopedia.
