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Finding Background Information on Modern American Musicians

If you know or think that a book has been published by or about an artist (i.e. Frank Sinatra) or if the musician is very well known check the CCC Library Catalog.

For information on a musician currently in the news try one of the computerized magazine indexes. Enter the artist's name as subject.

Selected Music Reference Sources:
The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll REF ML102 R6 R64
Jazz People REF ML87 B65
New Oxford Companion to Music REF ML100 N4X
New Oxford History of Music REF ML160 N44
The New Grove Dictionary of American Music REF ML106 U6 N48
Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music REF ML102 P66 G84
Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians REF ML105 S67

General Reference Reference Sources for Biographical Information:
Biography Index
Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia REF CT103 C26
Current Biography Yearbook REF CT100 C8
Notable Hispanic American Women REF E184 S75 N68
Reference Library of Black America REF 185 R44
Black Women in America REF E185.86 B542
Notable Black American Women REF E185.96 N68
Notable Black American Men REF E185.86 N68
Notable Latino Americans REF E184 S75 M435
American Decades REF E169.12 A419
Encyclopedia of African American Culture and History REF E185 E4


The Internet:
There are many Internet sites related to music and musicians. Search for the name of the musician you have chosen. Try Google.

The Twentieth Century Composers

The Modern Era (1900 - 1945) The Conservatory at Humanities Web outlines the rise of post-romantic music, rhythmic, harmonic, and tonal experimentation, and lists major composers with biographies, suggested reading, and additional resources.

20th Century: 1900-Present Introduction to recent compositional work from Essentials of Music. Linked to details on historical themes, musical context, style, and living or recently deceased composer biographies.

A&E Biography Site

Internet Public Library - Music

Magazine/Information Databases:

American National Biography

Encyclopedia Britannica

General Reference Center Gold