The Producer: John Hammond and the Soul of American Music
The Producer: John Hammond and the Soul of American Music is Dunstan Prial’s biography of a record producer and talent scout whose career spanned jazz, pop, and rock. Its account connects Hammond’s work with musicians including Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, and Bruce Springsteen to his advocacy for racial equality and the role of music in American life.
At a glance
- Covers Hammond’s early jazz discoveries and later work with artists in pop and rock.
- Includes the 1939 Carnegie Hall concert From Spirituals to Swing and Hammond’s advocacy for racial equality.
- The listing describes the book as a readable narrative based on solid research.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The biography spans several eras of American music, making it relevant beyond readers interested only in jazz.
- The account links Hammond’s artist scouting and record-industry career with his social convictions.
- Kindle listing specifies screen-reader support, enhanced typesetting, Word Wise, and Page Flip.
Technical specifications
11 specifications| Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Giroux |
|---|---|
| Publication date | May 15, 2007 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 381 pages |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1429931328 |
| File size | 3.6 MB |
|---|---|
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Page Flip | Enabled |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers interested in the history of American jazz, pop, and rock.
- Readers seeking a biography of John Hammond and the artists he championed.
- Those interested in the intersection of music-industry history and racial equality.
Less suited to
- Readers looking for an artist autobiography or a technical guide to music production.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
81% 81% - 4 stars
17% 17% - 3 stars
0% 0% - 2 stars
1% 1% - 1 star
1% 1%
The supplied evidence contains aggregate ratings but no written customer feedback. The ratings are strongly weighted toward the top two star categories, with a small share at the lower end. This gives a favorable overall signal but does not reveal what readers liked or disliked, or how the book’s broad coverage and narrative style work for an individual reader.
Frequently asked questions
What is this book about?
It is a biography of John Hammond, following his role in discovering and promoting musicians across jazz, pop, and rock, as well as his advocacy for racial equality.
Which artists are discussed?
The listing names Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
What Kindle reading features are listed?
The listing says screen readers, enhanced typesetting, Word Wise, and Page Flip are supported or enabled. X-Ray is not enabled.
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