In Doo-Wop Acappella: A Story of Street Corners, Echoes, and Three-Part Harmonies, scholar and musician Lawrence Pitilli details this too-little-explored area of 1950’s - early 60’s American culture. As Kenny Vance and the Planotones suggested in their classic song “Looking for an Echo,” every doo-wop acapella group’s mission—the search “for a sound, a place to be in harmony, a place we almost found”—was more than the story of street kids seeking recording glory. It is the tale of urban change, mass migrations, ethnic acculturation, a changing radio and recording industry, and the dynamics of cultural change in the “sounds”—sonic and linguistic—that every generation seeks to make and re-make for itself. In his study of this neglected period, Pitilli uncovers a rich musical tradition practiced largely by amateurs in an almost mythologized urban America. Although most of these practitioners were musically untrained, their lack of formal music education and financial support neither diluted their passion for singing or their quest for possible fame and fortune. In this engagingly written and celebratory work, Pitilli further demonstrates that doo-wop acappella was closely tied to broader issues, including the self-invented individual, gender roles, ethnicity, race, and class.

In this highly anticipated sequel to A Cappella Arranging, Deke Sharon and Dylan Bell provide even more tools and insights to help musicians master the craft of a cappella arranging—including new creative principles and theoretical techniques to expand the palate, as well as arranging in various musical genres spanning several decades of music. Since the publication of the original book in 2012, a cappella as a genre has grown enormously. Using conversational yet instructive tone, A Cappella Arranging 2.0: The Next Level picks up where the previous book left off, helping people deepen their a cappella arranging skills. In four parts, the book addresses a variety of topics including: The creative process An advanced understanding of vocal ranges Counterpoint and polyphony Harmonic concepts and techniques Arranging for the studio Live looping arrangements Instrumental idioms Arranging in different styles, including world styles Medleys and mashups This is the perfect resource for taking your a cappella arrangements to the next level.

"You Don't Know Me" is the fascinating memoir of Stormin' Norman Seldin, the influential musician, band leader, songwriter, arranger, producer, promoter and record label owner. Norman's music career transcends the genres of rhythm & blues, doo wop, soul, jazz, rock & roll, pop and rock music and his life stories go way beyond his involvement in music. Norman began playing piano at age three and fronted his first band by the age of twelve. Norman's strong influence helped shape the emerging Asbury Park rock scene of the 1960's that became known worldwide as the Jersey Sound. As a teenage dance and concert promoter he brought together many of the early bands like the Castiles, Motifs, DuCanes, Sonny & the Starfires and Jaywalkers that produced rock luminaries like Bruce Springsteen, Vini Lopez, Doc Holiday, Billy Ryan, Mickey Holiday, Vinnie Roslin and others. Norman hired and recorded Clarence Clemons prior to Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. In doing so, he broke the color barrier in Jersey shore clubs. In soul music, Norman discovered Harry Ray before Ray Goodman & Brown. In doo wop music, Norman managed acts like Larry Chance & the Earls and produced numerous concerts by Nicky Addeo, Vito & the Salutations, Shells, Duprees, Danny & the Juniors, Belmonts, Olympics and countless others. He recorded doo wop groups like the Darchaes, Uniques and Shondelles. This barely scratches the surface of a career that went from New Jersey to Mississippi to Florida and back. But accomplishments alone don't make for a great read. There has to be a storyline to draws readers in. While music is woven through the fabric of every paragraph, this book is not really about music. It's about one man's determination to overcome adversity while living by his own terms. Whether racing horses, surviving health crises or fighting discrimination, Norman Seldin "stormed" his way through each situation. This book is the life story of Stormin' Norman Seldin. Music is just Norman's companion. Norman found early on that in an imperfect world, real music is pure. In a world full of discord, Norman found harmony.

This comprehensive guide is a must-have for the legions of fans of the beloved and perennially popular music known as soul and rhythm & blues. The latest in the definitive All Music Guide series, the All Music Guide to Soul offers nearly 8 500 entertaining and informative reviews that lead readers to the best recordings by more than 1 500 artists and help them find new music to explore. Informative biographies, essays and “music maps” trace R&B's growth from its roots in blues and gospel through its flowering in Memphis and Motown, to its many branches today. Complete discographies note bootlegs, important out-of-print albums, and import-only releases. “Extremely valuable and exhaustive.” – The Christian Science Monitor

More than any other person, Deke Sharon is responsible for the current success of pop a cappella. Founder of the House Jacks (the original “rock band without instruments”), Deke continues to influence through his work with The Sing-Off, Pitch Perfect, Pitch Perfect 2, and Vocalosity. Combine Deke’s expertise with that of directors Ben Spalding and Brody McDonald, add a foreword by Ben Folds, throw in advice from contributors like Peter Hollens, and you have the most comprehensive volume ever created on the subject of contemporary a cappella singing. Sections include: * Setting the Stage * Getting the Band Together * Arranging * Preparing * Technology * Making a Name * and more!

The most complete and affordable single-volume reference of African American culture available today, this almanac is a unique and valuable resource devoted to illustrating and demystifying the moving, difficult, and often lost history of black life in America. Celebrating centuries of achievements, the African American Almanac: 400 Years of Triumph, Courage, and Excellence provides insights on the influence, inspiration, and impact of African Americans on U.S. society and culture. A legacy of pride, struggle, and triumph is presented through a fascinating mix of biographies—including 750 influential figures—little-known or misunderstood historical facts, enlightening essays on significant legislation and movements, and 445 rare photographs and illustrations. Covering politics, education, religion, business, science, medicine, the military, sports, literature, music, dance, theater, art, film, and television, chapters address the important events and social and cultural changes that affected African Americans over the centuries, followed by biographical profiles of hundreds of key figures, including Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, Josephine Baker, Amiri Baraka, Daisy Bates, George Washington Carver, Ray Charles, Bessie Coleman, Gary Davis, Frederick Douglass, W. E. B. Du Bois, Michael Eric Dyson, Duke Ellington, Medgar Evers, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Eric H. Holder Jr., Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, LeBron James, Mae C. Jemison, Martin Luther King Jr., Queen Latifah, Jacob Lawrence, Kevin Liles, Thurgood Marshall, Walter Mosley, Elijah Muhammad, Barack Obama, Gordon Parks, Rosa Parks, Richard Pryor, Condoleezza Rice, Smokey Robinson, Wilma Rudolph, Betty Shabazz, Tavis Smiley, Clarence Thomas, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Ross Tubman, C. Delores Tucker, Usher, Denmark Vesey, Alice Walker, Booker T. Washington, Kanye West, Reggie White, Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and Malcolm X. Explore a wealth of milestones, inspiration, challenges met, and lasting respect! The African American Almanac’s helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.