African American women have been essential to rock and roll, but their contributions have been overlooked. Maureen Mahon's book Black Diamond Queens explores their history and cultural impact, featuring Big Mama Thornton, LaVern Baker, Betty Davis, Tina Turner, Merry Clayton, Labelle, and the Shirelles.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 408 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2020
Publisher: Duke University Press

African American women have made significant contributions to rock and roll, from its early days to the present. Despite their important role, their contributions have often been overlooked or marginalized by narratives that portray rock as a predominantly white male genre. In her book, "Black Diamond Queens: The History of African American Women in Rock and Roll," Maureen Mahon explores the history of African American women in rock and roll between the 1950s and the 1980s. Mahon draws on a wide range of sources, including recordings, press coverage, archival materials, and interviews, to document the musical contributions and cultural impact of these women. She highlights the musical talents of Big Mama Thornton, LaVern Baker, Betty Davis, Tina Turner, Merry Clayton, Labelle, the Shirelles, and many others, and shows how dominant views of gender, race, sexuality, and genre affected their careers. By uncovering this hidden history of black women in rock and roll, Mahon reveals a powerful sonic legacy that continues to resonate in the twenty-first century.

African American Women in Rock and Roll

African American women have played a pivotal part in rock and roll, from laying its foundations and singing chart-topping hits to influencing some of the genre's most iconic acts. Despite this, black women's importance to the music's history has been diminished by narratives of rock as a mostly white male enterprise. In "Black Diamond Queens," Maureen Mahon draws on recordings, press coverage, archival materials, and interviews to document the history of African American women in rock and roll between the 1950s and the 1980s. Mahon details the musical contributions and cultural impact of Big Mama Thornton, LaVern Baker, Betty Davis, Tina Turner, Merry Clayton, Labelle, the Shirelles, and others, demonstrating how dominant views of gender, race, sexuality, and genre affected their careers. By uncovering this hidden history of black women in rock and roll, Mahon reveals a powerful sonic legacy that continues to reverberate into the twenty-first century.

Weight: 598g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478011224