“Timothy Rommen has done it again. After the success of his earlier award-winning study of gospel music in Trinidad and the ethics of style, Rommen turns his attention to the complex and conflicted history of music in the Bahamas. Drawing upon extensive ethnographic and historical research, Rommen explores the interrelationships between rake-n-scrape, goombay, and Junkanoo performance, and shows how such ‘local’ musics are implicated in Bahamian understandings of national identity. In Funky Nassau, Timothy Rommen confirms his status as one of the best scholars of Caribbean music today.” —Michael Largey, author of Vodou Nation: Haitian Art Music and Cultural Nationalism "This sensitive, bittersweet account of music-making in the Bahamas shows how a small, fragmented country that has been buffeted by powerful currents emanating from both the United States and the Caribbean has managed to produce a vibrant popular music of its own. Rommen carefully maps the political and cultural economies that are integral to this story, but he keeps the musicians themselves, their aesthetics and strategies, at the center where they belong. The result is a vivid and finely nuanced portrait of a unique musical culture that deserves to be better known." —Kenneth Bilby, Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College Chicago

There are hundreds of records that I have loved over the course of my life. Some of these records have faded into the depths of my subconscious. Fortunately, most of them have stayed with me year after year remaining fresh in my memory, alive in my heart. I compiled my first “Favorites List” in 1983, and it contained about 600 recordings. Most of the records on the original list are still there today. My current list consists of about 900 recordings. And the list is still growing as I continue to be introduced to more music. You may be familiar with Rolling Stone’s 2004 cover story, “The 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time.” This is certainly a comprehensive compendium on the subject, so why should I bother writing this book? Because I’m taking a different approach, a personal approach. There’s a difference between the “greatest songs” as determined by professional music critics, and someone’s “favorite records.” I’m not a music critic or a musicologist. I’m just a guy who loves good music. Nonetheless, I believe my opinions have value because of the strong connection I have with each record. The primary purpose of this book is to draw us together using our favorite music as the catalyst. In the process of getting to know someone, a commonly asked question is: “What kind of music do you like?” His or her answer usually reveals something about their personality. Not only will you learn what my favorite records are, you will learn about me, why I like these songs and how I came to discover them. I’m hoping to create conversations, not only between you and I, but between all American music lovers. Thousands upon thousands of songs have been recorded over the past 60 years. I’ve been an avid listener for most of my life, but there are still a lot of “hidden treasures” out there I’d love to find. I’m hoping you, by sharing your favorites with me, will help me to find them. I’m also hoping that I will inspire you to listen to some of my favorites. There is a treasure trove of great music out waiting to be enjoyed!

Dinah Williams had it all; a man who loved her, a luxury apartment and a promising legal career. But, one weekend trip to Chocolate City with her best friend Liza changed how she saw her life and who she saw it with, when she meets Liza's cousin, the handsome and exciting Andre Lewis and is swept away by a night of passion that causes her to leave the safe world she's always known. But that's just the beginning when she discovers that there are 13 woman to one man, thanks to her wacky and zany friend Charlotte, a postal worker whose comical nature gets her through the rough times; Teresa whose been seeing the same married man for years, and Dolores a single mom raising a young daughter. Dinah soon discovers that Andre leads a double life, the dark side of which puts their lives in danger. But with the help of her friends, can she save them both? Obsession runs deep in this controversial novel that takes a vivid, funny and often painful look at black life, black love and the pursuit of the American dream on the streets of Washington, D.C. in the mid '70's.

This book focuses on the complex issues of tourism development, governance and sustainability in the long-standing popular island destination, The Bahamas, where tourism remains one of the primary fiscal industries. The book achieves this by looking at the impacts of mass tourism development from social, economic and environmental perspectives; panarchy and resilience; assessing sustainability; moving towards a blue economy; impacts of climate change and innovative alternative tourism offerings to ensure sustainable tourism – a welcomed but challenging essential contemporary focus of the tourism industry. It further looks at how development, governance and sustainability come together in the aftermath of a recent natural disaster, hurricane Dorian, which proved to be a strong catalyst for action, innovation and change in The Bahamas. Given the complexity of these key concepts and The Bahamas as an established popular tourism destination archipelago which relies so heavily on the industry, this book offers significant insight for other tourism regions and will therefore be essential reading for upper-level students and academics in the field of Tourism research.

Mark Beechs 1998 predecessor, The A-Z of Names in Rock generated over 50 radio interviews, 15 articles, 7 features in nationals and two serializations. This extended and updated version covers more genres than just rock (e.g. pop, punk, indie, reggae, soul, country, blues, folk, jazz, heavy metal, grunge and rap artists and bands) and will appeal to music fans internationally, as well as being the must-buy book for pub quiz fans. With almost 3,000 entries, its a chance to discover why artists chose their names and which ones shouldnt have. An informative and often humorous read, the worlds leading expert on music names (BBC), Mark Beech, is guaranteed another best-seller.

This two-volume encyclopedia profiles the contemporary culture and society of every country in the Americas, from Canada and the United States to the islands of the Caribbean and the many countries of Latin America. From delicacies to dances, this encyclopedia introduces readers to cultures and customs of all of the countries of the Americas, explaining what makes each country unique while also demonstrating what ties the cultures and peoples together. The Americas profiles the 40 nations and territories that make up North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, including British, U.S., Dutch, and French territories. Each country profile takes an in-depth look at such contemporary topics as religion, lifestyle and leisure, cuisine, gender roles, dress, festivals, music, visual arts, and architecture, among many others, while also providing contextual information on history, politics, and economics. Readers will be able to draw cross-cultural comparisons, such as between gender roles in Mexico and those in Brazil. Coverage on every country in the region provides readers with a useful compendium of cultural information, ideal for anyone interested in geography, social studies, global studies, and anthropology.

Hip-hop is now a global multi-billion pound industry. It has spawned superstars all across the world. There have been tie-in clothing lines, TV stations, film companies, cosmetics lines. It even has its own sports, its own art style, its own dialect. It is an all-encompassing lifestyle. But where did hip-hop culture begin? Who created it? How did hip-hop become such a phenomenon? Jeff Chang, an American journalist, has written the most comprehensive book on hip-hop to date. He introduces the major players who came up with the ideas that form the basic elements of the culture. He describes how it all began with social upheavals in Jamaica, the Bronx, the Black Belt of Long Island and South Central LA. He not only provides a history of the music, but a fascinating insight into the social background of young black America. Stretching from the early 70s through to the present day, this is the definitive history of hip-hop. It will be essential reading for all DJs, B-Boys, MCs and anyone with an interest in American history.

“Smitty is a creative talent who brings a very unique interpretation, that is both informative and anecdotal. He had spent most of his life studying and working with the graphic / visual arts. Although he still loves the visual arts.......he finally realized.....later in life......... what he had actually known all along...... that everything comes back to a song. It is not unusual for anyone to conjure up vivid memories whenever a certain song is mentioned, or played. However, Smitty does it in a way that puts the reader into the actual environment.....very magical. Most folks would probably not have experienced some of the events and circumstances that he mentions within this book, but I think that everyone can relate to them. Another factor that sets this book apart from other music retrospectives are the constant reminders of those unheralded performers, writers, producers who seldom would get top billing, but who made outstanding creations just the same. One of his strongest talents is being able to link a specific historic event with a song, which, of course, comes from a very deep memory. This, along with the sometimes humorous observations contained throughout, make for very enjoyable and informative reading. Could actually be considered as a general reference book for the music and events of the “baby-boomer” generation. The best thing is, not only is this book a story about a specific era, but it is his story.

The first narrative biography of the Bee Gees, the phenomenally popular vocal group that has sold more than 200 million records worldwide -- sales in the company of the Beatles and Michael Jackson. The Bee Gees is the epic family saga of brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, and it's riddled with astonishing highs—especially as they became the definitive band of the disco era, fueled by Saturday Night Fever and crashing lows, including the tragic drug-fueled downfall of youngest brother, Andy. In recent years, a whole new generation of fans has rediscovered the undeniable grooves and harmonies that made the Bee Gees and songs like Stayin' Alive, How Deep is Your Love, To Love Somebody, and I Started a Joke timeless.

Florida Historical Society Charlton Tebeau Award University of Tampa College of Arts and Letters Outstanding Scholarship or Creative Work Award When recalling the roots of soul music, most people are likely to name Memphis, Detroit, New Orleans, Muscle Shoals, or Macon. But Florida also has a rich soul music history—an important cultural legacy that has often gone unrecognized. Florida Soul celebrates great artists of the Sunshine State who produced some of the most electric, emotive soul music America has ever heard. This book tells the story of Ray Charles’s musical upbringing in Florida, where he wrote his first songs and made his first recordings. It highlights the careers of Pensacola singers James and Bobby Purify and their producer, Papa Don Schroeder. Florida Soul reveals how Hank Ballard created his international hit song "The Twist" after seeing the dance in Tampa and profiles Gainesville singer Linda Lyndell ("What a Man"). Miami’s Overtown and Liberty City neighborhoods produced Sam Moore of the legendary duo Sam and Dave, Willie Clarke and Johnny Pearsall of Deep City Records, and singer Helene Smith. Miami was also the longtime headquarters of Henry Stone, whose influential company T.K. Productions put out hits by Timmy Thomas, Latimore, Betty Wright, and KC and the Sunshine Band. Stone’s artists and distribution deals influenced charts and radio airplay across the world. Born in the era of segregation with origins in gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz and reaching maturity during the civil rights movement, soul music is still enjoyed today, still very much a part of our collective culture. John Capouya draws on extensive interviews with surviving musicians to re-create the excitement and honor the achievements of soul’s golden age, establishing Florida as one of the great soul music capitals of the United States.