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  • The Christian Science Monitor

    Play it loud: A rich history of American pop music

    by Joan Gaylord Jan 12, 2023 4 minutes

    American jazz vocalist Lou Rawls once proclaimed, “Music is the greatest communication in the world.” Not bound by language, he explained, music holds a power to reach across cultures. 

    Popular music that has emerged since the start of the 20th century has communicated identities and ideas while also fostering a worldwide industry. Four recent books examine this history, focusing on American popular music. As a group, each claims a voice in an entertaining but complicated conversation that explores the power of the music industry, the impact of technology, and the pressure of social mores. 

    Black music as a foundation

    What is widely viewed as “American music” has long been an appropriation of Black music – without giving credit.

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