The Record Players

March 1, 2011

In the 21st century analog and digital music technologies and cultures continue to converge and diverge. Somewhere between technological manipulation and musical archaeology is the art of the DJ. In this series of interviews, Brewster and Broughton (coauthors, Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jokey) illuminate the diversity of artists that propelled the DJ from sound engineer to featured performer. Each entry includes photos and a selected discography of the performer's work. Familiar DJ pioneers such as Grandmaster Flash and Paul Oakenfold are included with lesser-known originators like Terry Noel and Kev Roberts. In addition to the details of their lives, the performers also consider music consumption by the general public. Whereas early DJs introduced the public to new sounds through vinyl, modern DJs are increasingly manipulating music files to a more digitally sophisticated audience. Both, however, serve as musical archivists reintroducing forgotten records to current and future generations. VERDICT Mixed with colorful characters and stories, these interviews will appeal to aspiring DJs everywhere.--Joshua Finnell, Denison Univ. Lib., Granville, OH

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.