The International Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Ladies' Jazz Band from Piney Woods Country Life School

by Antoinette D. Handy

Overview

The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, a popular women's jazz band of the 1940s, has earned a reputation as the 'best all-women's swing band ever to perform.' This revised and updated edition provides fascinating reading for jazz enthusiasts and students of American history, music, and women's history. It is the most comprehensive and objective history of the band to date. Handy documents all sides of the band's controversial story and interviews members of the band. She updates the careers of band members who remained in the music business. Accompanied by an extensive bibliography and many photographs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461623595
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/1998
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

D. Antoinette Handy is a former flutist, music educator, and arts administrator. She was a humanities Fellow at the University of North Carolina and Duke University. She recently retired as Director of the Music Program, National Endowment for the Arts. Her previous Scarecrow Press books are Black Women in American Bands and Orchestras and Black Conductors.

Editorial Reviews

Ms. Handy masterfully details the group's history and how it challenged racial, social and musical boundaries. A wealth of rare photographs, excerpts from vintage trade papers, and quotes from the Sweethearts help tell the story.....

PAST TIMES

...examines, very interestingly, the state of race issues over the course of both the school's and the band's life...a good guide to an often overlooked part of Jazz history.....

CADENCE

Handy has painstakingly dug up an immeasurable wealth of information (both ubiquitous and virtually unknown) from printed sources as well as personal letters and conversations to effectively document the trials and tribulations of this amazing orchestra...Handy's passion for her work clearly permeates her writing and this book will undoubtedly serve as a useful tool for those wishing to learn more about this phenomenal, all-female group...Handy has created a great resource here......

RAPPORT

...[author] continues her impressive and valuable abilities in documenting the history of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm...We the intended audience are indebted to her for this well researched, extensive and unbiased book.....

COUNTERPOISE

Ms. Handy masterfully details the group's history and how it challenged racial, social and musical boundaries. A wealth of rare photographs, excerpts from vintage trade papers, and quotes from the Sweethearts help tell the story.

Past Times

...examines, very interestingly, the state of race issues over the course of both the school's and the band's life...a good guide to an often overlooked part of Jazz history.

Cadence Magazine

Handy has painstakingly dug up an immeasurable wealth of information (both ubiquitous and virtually unknown) from printed sources as well as personal letters and conversations to effectively document the trials and tribulations of this amazing orchestra...Handy's passion for her work clearly permeates her writing and this book will undoubtedly serve as a useful tool for those wishing to learn more about this phenomenal, all-female group...Handy has created a great resource here...

Rapport

...[author] continues her impressive and valuable abilities in documenting the history of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm...We the intended audience are indebted to her for this well researched, extensive and unbiased book.

Counterpoise