September 1, 1998

Contact: Jose A. Alvarez (619)594-2585

 

California Soul:

New Book Explores The Musical Contributions Of African Americans in California

 

Do you want to explore the rich musical heritage of African Americans in California? Then you must read California Soul, one of the first books to explore the musical contributions of African Americans in California.

California Soul : Music of African Americans in the West, edited by Eddie S. Meadows, Professor of Music at San Diego State University, and Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje, Professor of Ethnomusicology at the University of California, Los Angeles, is an anthology of essays and interviews that focus on "the musical creativity and experience of African Americans in California."

The book focuses on jazz, blues, gospel, soul and rhythm and blues and describes the individual artists, locales, groups, musical styles, and regional qualities.

San Diego readers will be particularly interested in Professor Meadows, essay which incorporates the views of local performers, radio personalities and media people. In the essay, entitled "African Americans and Lites Out Jazz, in San Diego: Marketing, Impact, and Criticism," Meadows creates a paradigm to assess the evolution of jazz in the African American community of San Diego from the 1890s to the 1980s.

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Eddie S. Meadows is a Professor of Music at San Diego State University. To obtain a review copy of California Soul or to arrange an interview with professor Meadows, please call (619) 594-2585.