Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Popular Musicians since 1990
The two volumes follow the 2001 expansion of Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians and offer 583 approximately one-page profiles of bands and individual artists working in all popular musical genres—from electronica and hip hop to heavy metal, country, and world music. Entries for bands list members and cite where and when the band was formed, genre, and best-selling album since 1990. This is followed by the biography which includes some history and discography as well as a...
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The two volumes follow the 2001 expansion of Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians and offer 583 approximately one-page profiles of bands and individual artists working in all popular musical genres—from electronica and hip hop to heavy metal, country, and world music. Entries for bands list members and cite where and when the band was formed, genre, and best-selling album since 1990. This is followed by the biography which includes some history and discography as well as a characterization of the band's sound (several of the contributors are music reviewers). Entries for individuals include the artists place and date of birth. About a quarter of the entries include a b&w photo. The appendix includes four essays on themes such as the rise and fall of grunge and the role of the Internet and the crisis of the music industry in the early 2000s. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Library Journal An excellent companion to the 2001 expansion of Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, this two-volume set deals with popular musicians from around the world who have been active since 1990. Readers will find the likes of late rhythm-and-blues star Aaliyah, Mexican pop idol Juan Gabriel, and bluegrass darling Dolly Parton, as well as tenor Luciano Pavarotti, Broadway's Bernadette Peters, and grizzled rocker Neil Young. Senior editor Stephen Wasserstein oversees a panel of 24 writers (many of them academics) who contributed 583 essays ranging from 500 to 2000 words. All are accessible and include biographical details, critical analysis of the artists' work, a discography, and (when applicable) an official web site, a filmography, and a bibliography. Some entries contain black-and-white photographs and "Spotlight" sidebars that delve more deeply into a notable album, song, event, or cultural context. The editors have included entries for musicians whose greatest impact was before 1990 (e.g., the Grateful Dead and Lou Reed), but they focus on answering the question, "What has this artist done lately?" The appendix contains four essays that chart the development of key musical movements since 1990 (e.g., grunge, rap's mainstream arrival, corporate radio, and the file-sharing crisis), and the index is thorough. Given the broad spectrum of musical styles covered here, this would make an excellent reference for public and academic libraries. One caveat: because most of the artists are still active today, many of the entries will quickly date. Nonetheless, this book is highly recommended; the only title that comes close to being comparable is Stan Jeffries's Encyclopedia of World Pop Music 1980-2001, which focuses on non-U.S. and non-U.K. musicians-also covered in Baker's inclusive work.-James E. Perone, Mount Union Coll., Alliance, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
\ Library JournalAn excellent companion to the 2001 expansion of Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, this two-volume set deals with popular musicians from around the world who have been active since 1990. Readers will find the likes of late rhythm-and-blues star Aaliyah, Mexican pop idol Juan Gabriel, and bluegrass darling Dolly Parton, as well as tenor Luciano Pavarotti, Broadway's Bernadette Peters, and grizzled rocker Neil Young. Senior editor Stephen Wasserstein oversees a panel of 24 writers (many of them academics) who contributed 583 essays ranging from 500 to 2000 words. All are accessible and include biographical details, critical analysis of the artists' work, a discography, and (when applicable) an official web site, a filmography, and a bibliography. Some entries contain black-and-white photographs and "Spotlight" sidebars that delve more deeply into a notable album, song, event, or cultural context. The editors have included entries for musicians whose greatest impact was before 1990 (e.g., the Grateful Dead and Lou Reed), but they focus on answering the question, "What has this artist done lately?" The appendix contains four essays that chart the development of key musical movements since 1990 (e.g., grunge, rap's mainstream arrival, corporate radio, and the file-sharing crisis), and the index is thorough. Given the broad spectrum of musical styles covered here, this would make an excellent reference for public and academic libraries. One caveat: because most of the artists are still active today, many of the entries will quickly date. Nonetheless, this book is highly recommended; the only title that comes close to being comparable is Stan Jeffries's Encyclopedia of World Pop Music 1980-2001, which focuses on non-U.S. and non-U.K. musicians-also covered in Baker's inclusive work.-James E. Perone, Mount Union Coll., Alliance, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.\ \ \ \ \ School Library JournalGr 9 Up-This up-to-date work expands on Nicolas Slonimsky's Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians (Schirmer, 2000), focusing on artists who have made an impact on the music scene since 1990, "who are likely to have staying power." Attention is also paid to veterans who continue to make a mark in music (Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and Rod Stewart). Entries on a sampling of classical or ethnic artists are included. Each biographical sketch consists of a short introduction, a listing of important dates, and best-selling albums and hit songs since 1990, followed by an account of the artist's career. The one- to three-page entries end with a selective discography, a bibliography of related books, and Web sites. The contributors do not shy away from speaking frankly about any controversies surrounding the artists; Eminem's notoriety is discussed, as is Melissa Etheridge's involvement with gay and lesbian issues. While the contributors are notable for their vast experience in music criticism, there is a factual error in the Gloria Estefan article regarding her comeback appearance after her tour bus accident. "Sidelight" boxes focus on significant songs or events of the era; there are no see references. The four signed essays in the appendix address topics such as grunge and rap, and changes in the music industry since 1990. The index is comprehensive. This reference work will be well used by researchers and by browsers.-Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.\ \
