Sweet Soul Music - by Peter Guralnick (Paperback)

About the Book

SWEET SOUL MUSIC profiles the legendary artists--among them Sam Cook, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and Al Green--who merged gospel and rhythm and blues. "The best history of '60s soul music. . . . Sooner or later, it is going to be recognized as a classic; the time to read it is now".--Robert Palmer, NEW YORK TIMES. 175 photos.

Book Synopsis

Renowned music writer Peter Guralnick takes on rhythm and blues in "the best history of '60s soul music anyone has written or is likely to write" (New York Times).

A gripping narrative that captures the tumult and liberating energy of a nation in transition, Sweet Soul Music is an intimate portrait of the legendary performers--Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, James Brown, Solomon Burke, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and Al Green among them--who merged gospel and rhythm and blues to create Southern soul music. Through rare interviews and with unique insight, Peter Guralnick tells the definitive story of the songs that inspired a generation and forever changed the sound of American music.

"One of the ten books [I] couldn't live without."--Ta-Nehisi Coates