by Robert Rawlins

Rookwood House Publishing, 2015

ISBN: 978-0996594905

Dimensions: 6" x 9"   Weight:  1.5 lbs

Tunes of the Twenties is the first book of its kind to tell the stories behind the classic songs of the Jazz Age. With a Foreword by Vince Giordano (Musical Director for the HBO series Boardwalk Empire), this colorfully illustrated book embarks on a musical journey through the era of speakeasies, gangsters, and hot jazz. Robert Rawlins discusses each of the 250 songs in his previous publication The Real Dixieland Book, and takes readers backstage to share the intriguing, sometimes unbelievable stories associated with their publication and subsequent history. Anyone who holds a fascination for the era of prohibition, flappers, and speakeasies will enjoy reading about the music that went along with it. Robert Rawlins is the author of six books, including Jazzology, The Real Dixieland Book, and How to Play From a Real Book, and has published more than 100 articles in magazines and journals. In addition to his university teaching, he has also been a performing musician his entire life, working with leading entertainers and jazz bands.

Reviews

• "If every picture tells a story, so does every song. Tunes of the Twenties digs deeply into the background of songs we have heard for ages but maybe never fully understood. Profusely illustrated with delightful sheet music covers in glorious color, this volume brings the Roaring Twenties back to life." --Bruce Boyd Raeburn, curator, Hogan Jazz Archive, Tulane University
• "Tunes Of The Twenties is filled with fascinating and well-researched tales about the origin and history behind the classic material." --Scott Yanow, American jazz reviewer, historian and author

• "An outstanding work. I wish I had had it to consult when I was writing my jazz standards book."    --Ted Gioa, American jazz critic and music historian

• "I thought I knew a lot of about the 1920s jazz repertoire but Robert Rawlins's Tunes of the Twenties offered me something new and interesting on every page. This is one book that I will always keep within an arm's reach!" --Ricky Riccardi, Director of Research Collections, Louis Armstrong  House Museum, and Author of What a Wonderful World: The Magic of Louis Armstrong's Later Years

• "Tunes of the Twenties is one heckuva book! For over a half-century I've enjoyed bringing these tunes to life as a musician, but now, with this book, I'm enjoying the stories behind them. I can think of no other book that, so perfectly, captures the humor, sensitivity, depth and understanding of this musically rich decade in America. It's no wonder that these songs have endured over the years. Tunes of the Twenties is a 'must read' for anyone who enjoys the Great American Songbook." --Ed Polcer, Legendary NYC Jazz Cornetist
• "Rawlins' writing style combines seriousness and deep knowledge of the subject with much humor, making it easy to read while being highly rewarding."  --All About Jazz