Hank Ewert – Let The Music Speak (Hardcover Book)

Description

Copies signed by the author!

Let the Music Speak: Tracking the Sounds That Changed Everything, 1945-1950offers a unique perspective on postwar American popular music and its roots. Thebooks author, Hank Ewert, has created a different take on how the music itselfdeveloped and eschews the traditional narrative approach of music histories: thebook literally takes the reader into the specifics of what happened and why letting the experience of the period provide a different story than most histories ofrock and roll or jazz or country. The books lens on music-making and its culturalcontext shows rather than tells the interested reader what happened and howmusical genres developed in six crucial years.

The main body of the book literally tracks, month-by-month and year-by-year, thetransition in musical genres at the end of and after World War II. It also provideskey context, providing examples of change in technology, politics, and the otherarts. The bulk of the examples come from within the United States, but manyreflect dynamics outside the country as well. Ewert is neither a music scholar nor acareer music writer; instead, he sees musics past and present through the eyes of avoracious fan, a music lover and collector who has simply sought to know more,experience more, and understand more about the way that songs and records workand where they come from. Instead of seeking to explain music, he immerses thereader, his kindred spirit, in musics flow.

Let the Music Speakis alively, rigorously researched chronicle ofhow the recording sessions, live performances, and record releases of the late fortiesconverged to create the soundscape of today. There is no book that better captures the cross-pollination of the post-war period and its enduring effect on modern music.—Sarah Aubrey,Head of Original Content, HBO Max

Enlightening, informative and entertaining. Hank Ewert brings to life how American music jumped, boogied and swung its way East/West/South/North and all the way around the world.–Floyd Domino, Musician (Keyboards); Asleep at the Wheel, Merle Haggard, Floyd Domino’s All-Stars

“Music fans and musicologists alike should enjoy this excursion through the music explosion that occurred in the post-WWII years in America, from big band and culturally diverse roots, that led the way to Elvis and The Beatles. A fascinating read!”–Tish Hinojosa, Singer-Songwriter/Recording Artist

Let the Music Speakoffers us an exciting new take on the wonderful period of US music development, 1945-1950. While other authors follow a more traditional cause and effect format, Hank focuses instead on the actual music (recording sessions, specific record releases, and other events and developments that give context to the music). After a thoughtful, pithy introduction, Hank opens a new window into this explosive musical period, filled with detailed, often hilarious, information about the artists and their pivotal work. Reading this book while listening to the music, you would have to fall in love with the great diversity of music presented here.–Kaz Kazanoff, Musician (Saxophones, Vocals, Harmonica); The Texas Horns, Jimmie Vaughan

Let the Music Speakis a passionate, beautiful deep dive into music history! Congratulations, Hank, on surfacing with a hard-won gem!–Kimmie Rhodes, author ofRadio Dreams; The Story of an Outlaw Dj and a Cosmic CowgirlandWest Texas Heaven Revisited