Pioneers of Rock and Roll: 100 Artists Who Changed the Face of Rock (Billboard Hitmakers)

By Harry Sumrall

The seminal artists of rock and roll are the subject of this initial volume of a Billboard series on the hitmakers and other significant artists of popular music. Beginning in the late '40s and early '50s and moving through the '70s, this book focuses on the singers, the players, and the bands who have mattered most in the evolution of rock's many styles.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0823076288
• ISBN13: 9780823076284
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Bpi Communications
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.0" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Very Good

Informative and insightful (and entertaining). The book concentrates on earlier artists, going about as far as 80s artists like R.E.M. and U2 (as such, major '90s artists like Nirvana aren't included) and probably giving too much credit to the likes of marginal talents like Alexis Korner and Bill Haley. Also, does Eric Clapton really merit 4 entries (Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, solo work)? However, this book is a great way to discover relatively neglected greats like the New York Dolls, Big Star, Flying Burrito Brothers. Personally, I think room should've also been made for Black Sabbath, the Stooges (and MC5), KISS (albeit not entirely for musical reasons), P-Funk, The Replacements, Husker Du, and Nick Drake, for starters. Nevertheless, highly recommended!

Informative and Very Interesting

I love resarching the history of rock and roll, so this book has been a god-send. It really does cover all the important artists since the beginning of rock and roll. It doesn't just stick to the most talented or the most sucessful monetarily, but the most influential, like the title says.