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An authoritative history of the trailblazers of the independent rock 'n' roll record industry

About the Author

John Broven is a respected expert on the rock 'n' roll era and has served as a consultant at Ace Records in the United Kingdom. A one-time coeditor of Blues Unlimited and cofounder of Juke Blues Magazine, he is the author ofRhythm and Blues in New Orleans and South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous. He lives on Long Island, New York.

Reviews

"A treasure. John Broven has given the academic world a good dose of old-fashioned shoe leather journalism. This book will be invaluable to scholars studying the music industry and particularly the rock 'n' roll era." Don Cusic, author of Johnny Cash: The Songs "Record Makers and Breakers is replete with groundbreaking research that more than any other single book explains how the popular music industry worked. A must read about the record industry." Robert Pruter, author of Doowop: The Chicago Scene and Chicago Soul "Broven's monumental history of post-war independent labels is a fascinating study of the birth of an industry that spawned as many chancers and charlatans as it did savvy business brains and inspirational music moguls...the warmth and character-driven personality of the writing makes it accessible to all. The depth of factual detail is incredible, but it's presented in the style of a rich oral history...it's a chronicle of the entrepreneurial American spirit, liberally punctuated by the creation of some of the most exciting and innovative music of all time." Terry Staunton, Record Collector, January 2009 "Broven, whose Walking To New Orleans was hailed as the finest book on New Orleans music, now turns his attention to the history of America's indie record industry."-Fred Dellar, Mojo, March 2009