Books in the Popular Music History series

Komeda: A Private Life in Jazz is the biography of Krzysztof (Trzcinski) Komeda (1931-1969), composer of no fewer than 40 soundtracks, including film scores to all of Roman Polanski's early films such as Knife in the Water and Rosemary's Baby; and a revered figure in the world of jazz.

The Ultimate Guide To Great Reggae celebrates (and helps you find) the greatest songs of reggae. It focuses on every style of reggae, from mento to Jamaican R&B, ska, rock steady, dub, DJ roots, dancehall and more.

Charlie Parker was one of the influential musicians in jazz, and was the main architect of the jazz revolution of the 1940s. Addicted to drugs and alcohol, and with a tangled private life, he died young. This biography of Charlie Parker provides a discussion of performances and recordings, with discography, notes and bibliography.

In this full length biography, Alyn Shipton examines the fascinating mix of ingredients that comprised the man and his music, and in the process draws a vivid picture of Carr's home region, the North-East of England, of National Service, of such literary influences as W. Somerset Maughan, of post-war continental Europe and its Bohemian arts scene, and of the London jazz world from the 1960s onwards

In Soul Unsung Le Gendre celebrates the contribution of players of instruments to soul. He analyses the inspiring creativity and imagination that several generations of musicians have brought to black pop, and highlights how they have broadened its sound canvas by adopting unusual stylistic approaches and embracing the latest technology.

A biography of five-time Grammy winner, Lionel Richie, who has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. For 9 consecutive years he had no 1 singles in America. It is also the story of two broken marriages, personal insecurities, near-death experiences and an insight into the man behind a success story that broke the rules.

A biography of Lennie Tristano, the blind pianist who was one of jazz's most extraordinary innovators.

Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright (b. 1973) is famous around the world for his multi-faceted musical style, shown through both his recorded output and his engaging live performances. In this book, Katherine Williams combines aspects of his life story with scholarly readings drawn from several methodologies.

Scouse Pop is a journey into the personalities and music of the successful pioneering Liverpool pop bands of the late seventies and eighties. It examines their motivations, their uniqueness and the routes to success which made them into enduring musical innovators.