When i first bought this book ten years ago, i was already an old rock fan but i didn't know much about JEROME KERN and IRVING BERLIN even if their names were familiar;this book made me aware of them.Plots,songs and original cast of all the classic musicals from SHOWBOAT to the present time are included here.What was the name of that musical in which MARY MARTIN first made MY HEART BELONGS TO DADDY a popular song;you'll find out.Were was JIMI HENDRIX born?Why are the early LOUIS ARMSTRONG recordings so important to the developpment of jazz and popular music?Who founded LE CHAT NOIR that famous cabaret that made ARISTIDE BRUANT a well known name around MONTMARTRE and after that throughout FRANCE.I could go on and on , but since i don't want to bore you,i'll suggest that you get a copy of that book and cancel your plans for the week-end because if you like music, you'll be hooked for good.

This book hits the basic points you will need to know about post-Renaissance classical music. Don't expect to be able to carry your weight in dialoge with professors of music, but you should be able to get by amateurs. It's also a good source for pieces to build up your own CD repertoire. For those who are already knowledgable, it's a good "cliff note."

Scott Joplin is _the_ name in Ragtime, and this book does a fine job of tracing what is known about his life and career. It's obviously written by a fan, though, and to my mind doesn't do enough to place Joplin in the context of his times (for a book with the title "Scott Joplin and the Ragtime Era", that is). Its comments on the early record industry are most revealing, however, and the black-and-white photos are above average. For ragtime fans and those who are interested in the roots of modern popular music.