GREAT BOOKS ABOUT MUSIC

Here’s a gallery of books that I’ve read, am reading or hope to read* that are about or related to music that I’ve photographed or been involved with. I haven’t included Photography or image based books as I’m working on another project with which has music photography at its heart. Hold tight the visual people.

I know that lots of people, lots of you, are looking for a deeper understanding of Black history, Art and music now. That is a good thing. I know that there are many, many books about music, but these are a few that are a particularly great place to start for people that love Dubstep, Hip-Hop, Garage, Grime, Punk, Reggae and Bass & sound-system music, Carnival, Drum n Bass, Jungle and music of and made by people of the African and Jamaican diasporas (I understand that the two are one and the same but I’ve separated them here to acknowledge the impact that Jamaica particularly has had on British music and culture like those I’ve been involved in).

It amazes me that music and associated cultures that are so often deemed as underground or niche or not “pop” still struggle for space in history books & formal education. When they give the world so much and influence so much of what comes to be “popular.”

I really feel it’s important to read about the history and origins of music, as written by people that were or are involved with it &/or who have done solid and careful research or who have a unique perspective that ties music to lived experience & wider histories.

In writing like that, the right people are credited and valued and in reading like that, the music lover has more of an understanding of why community matters, why women in music matter, why good venues & decent promoters matter, why gentle security staff matter, why politics & legislation matters and crucially, why black lives & voices & representation matters.

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*For transparency, I’ve read or part read 9 of these and the rest I know to be by people directly involved with the music they’re writing about OR very well researched.

Please don’t hesitate to drop recommendations in the comments.

BTW I’m on Goodreads if any of you want to connect on there.

Please remember to support independent publishers and book-stores where you can!