The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records : A Great Migration Story, 1917-1932 / Scott Blackwood.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Blackwood, Scott, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Paramount (Sound recording label).

New York Recording Laboratories.

Wisconsin Chair Company.

Sound recording industry--Wisconsin--History--20th century.

Sound recording industry.

African American musicians--Wisconsin--History--20th century.

African American musicians.

African American singers--Wisconsin--History--20th century.

African American singers.

African American sound recording executives and producers--Wisconsin--History--20th century.

African American sound recording executives and producers.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (204 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Baton Rouge : Louisiana State University Press, [2023]

Summary:

The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records: A Great Migration Story, 1917–1932, by Scott Blackwood, explores the history of Paramount Records, a Wisconsin-based label founded by the New York Recording Laboratories in 1917. Initially created to boost phonograph cabinet sales, Paramount shifted its focus to recording Black artists during the 'race records' era. This strategic pivot coincided with the Great Migration and helped document the emergence of blues, jazz, and gospel music. Despite its business ineptitude, Paramount recorded legendary artists like Louis Armstrong, Ma Rainey, and Blind Lemon Jefferson, inadvertently creating a significant cultural archive. The book highlights the paradox of Paramount’s success amidst its operational failures, and its impact on Black America’s musical legacy. Generated by AI.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

List of Illustrations

Preface

Introduction: Out of the Anonymous Dark

I. 1917–1927

1. The Great Migration

2. The Black Metropolis

3. A Brief History of the Phonograph

4. Who by Fire: The Rise of Paramount

5. Holy Fools of the Record Business

6. A Brief History of Black Minstrelsy

7. Rise of the Blues Women

8. Mayo Williams: Impresario, Confidence Man, Champion of the Race

9. How to Make a Race Record

10. Electrically Recorded

11. Rise of the Jazz Masters

12. Dying Lights of Vaudeville: Papa Charlie Jackson and Ma Rainey

13. Blind Lemon Jefferson

14. Blind Blake

II. 1928–1932

15. Ghost Voices

16. Last Kind Words

17. Frolic

18. The Discoverers

19. The Time of the Preacher: Rise of Sacred Voices

20. Ghost in the Machine: Clarence Williams and the Rise of Swing

21. Grafton Sessions: Ridiculous to the Sublime Generated by AI.

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Part of the metadata in this record was created by AI, based on the text of the resource.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780807179635

0807179639

OCLC:

1340411211