Before Motown: A History of Jazz in Detroit, 1920-60

by Lars Bjorn, Jim Gallert

When most people think of Detroit and music, they think of the Motown sound. But what many people forget is that Detroit has a remarkable jazz history, which became a major influence in what came to be known as the Motown sound.

Before Motown is the first book about the history of jazz in Detroit. It shows the significant impact Detroit has had on the development of jazz in America, with its own sound, distinct from that of the other jazz centers of Chicago, New Orleans, St. Louis, or Kansas City. Starting with the big bands in the 1920s,with groups like the McKinney's Cotton Pickers and Jean Goldkette's Orchestra, and continuing into the 1950s, Detroit experienced a golden age of modern jazz centered around clubs like the Blue Bird Inn. That jazz scene comes alive in interviews with musicians and club owners, combined with unique period photographs and advertisements. In addition, Detroit's vital jazz scene is placed in its social context, particularly within the changing relations between blacks and whites at the time.

Long overdue, Before Motown tells the story of Detroit jazz as it really happened, told by the people who lived it. More importantly, it shows how life can mirror art in the most pragmatic of American cities, Detroit.

Lars Bjorn is Professor of Sociology, University of Michigan, Dearborn, and the author of numerous articles and publications about jazz. Jim Gallert is Vice President of the Jazz Alliance of Michigan and a veteran jazz broadcaster. He has been involved with the Detroit jazz scene for over twenty-five years.

Genres: Music, History, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 22, 2001

Reviews

[Tad Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars is nowhere near enough for this wonderful book. Bjorn and Gallert have recognized the importance of their subject matter -- one of the richest sources of American music in the 20th century. Saxophone great Pepper Adams said it best - quoted here by the authors. He had joined the Army in 1951, and been put in a band with older, professional musicians. He was sure he'd be able to learn from them, but found that growing up and playing gigs in Detroit had already put him way ahead of them: "You see, in Detroit the standards were so high that to compete for local gigs you had to be awful goddamn good! If you were good enough to be competitive in Detroit, you were far ahead of what the rest of the world's standards were."
I won't even begin to try to list the amazing roster of jazz and blues greats who came out of Detroit -- read the book. I will say that Bjorn and Gallert, as writers, are good enough to be competitive in Detroit. They're great interviewers, exhaustive researchers, solid writers, and they understand their subject.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

People who have watched Standing in the Shadows of Motown know the funk brothers were were jazz men. This book goes way back in the way back machine.

[Ben]

Recommended by BELLE ISLE TO 8 MILE: AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO DETROIT 2ND EDITION