The Life and Writings of Ralph J. Gleason

Discover the enthralling world of Ralph J. Gleason, a pioneering music journalist who expanded the possibilities of the newspaper music column, sparked the San Francisco jazz and rock scenes, and co-founded Rolling Stone magazine. Gleason not only reported on but influenced the trajectory of popular music. He alone chronicled the unparalleled evolution of popular music from the 1930s into the 1970s, and while doing so, interviewed and befriended many trailblazers such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles. A true iconoclast, he dismantled the barriers between popular and highbrow music, and barriers separating the musical genres. He played a crucial role in shaping postwar music criticism by covering all genres and analyzing music's social, political, and historical meanings. This book uncovers never-before-seen letters, anecdotes, family accounts, and exclusive interviews to reveal one of the most intriguing personalities of the 20th century.

Don Armstrong is retired Associate Professor of Architecture and an independent scholar specializing in music journalism history. During his tenure at Tuskegee University, USA, he published on African American architecture and socially responsible design, which led to an interest in Ralph J. Gleason, who was devoted to social justice and championing Black musicians. Don administers the Facebook group Music Journalism History, whose members include leading music journalists. He and his wife, Jessica, live in Florida. Visit https://don-armstrong.com.

List of Images
Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Number One Jazz Writer
1. The Horseplayer's Son (1917-34)
2. Hot Jazz Off the Record (1934-38)
3. The Politics of Jazz History-Telling (1938-1946)
4. San Francisco (1946-56)
5. Winds of Change (1956-63)
6. An Entertainment of Dissent (1964)
7. The Jazz Liverpool of the West (1965)
8. A Sonic High (1965-67)
9. The Rolling Stone Generation (1967-69)
10. We've Had All That (1969-74)
11. Ralph, This is Your City (1974-1975)
Conclusion: One Picket Left
Endnotes
Index