Spreadin' Rhythm Around: Black Popular Songwriters, 1880-1930 [Paperback] Review

Coauthors David A. Jasen and Gene Jones should be declared national treasures. Along with their excellent account "That AmericanRag," published by Schirmer Books, they have given us from the samepublishing house.
Reading this fabulous account of so many talentedBlacks hitting their heads against the stone wall of prejudice at almostevery turn, I was fascinated, sad, and increasingly angry at story afterstory about composer after composer, lyricist after lyricist, who had somuch to offer and and were for the most part obliged to perpetuate thestereotypical image imposed upon them and their people. Now and then, abright light breaks through as with the story of James Resse Europe's ClefClub, a union of black musicians that managed (with the help of Irene andVernon Castle) to make their orchestras and bands those of choice by whitehigh society. You will be equally riveted to the other accounts of men likeJames A. Bland, Bert Williams, W.C. Handy, Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake, andothers some more familiar and less familiar to most readers.
Many ofthe defeats described are not necessarily the result of racism. When one ofthe personalities involved was at fault through his own temper or poorjudgment, the authors do not shirk in pointing out where the blame lies.They also do something I found lacking in their other book: when they sayhow good or innovative a song was, they give reasons in musical terms forthat judgment.
On the other hand, whereas their other book hasamazingly concise and full appendices of works, dates, publishers, and soon, this book has none. I would greatly have appreciated a list of the allthe shows mentioned in the text in chronological order. Perhaps a lateredition will include this.

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