Leaders of the Pack

In Leaders of the Pack: Girl Groups of the 1960s and their Influence on Popular Culture musician and music historian Sean MacLeod surveys the hundreds of girl groups that appeared not only in the United States but also in Great Britain during the early 1960s. This study corrects the neglect of their critical contribution of popular music history by exploring the social and political climate from which the girl groups emerged and their effect, in turn, on local and national music and culture. Leaders of the Pack is essential reading for students, scholars, and fans of 1960s music and culture. It will further interest anyone interested in women’s studies, modern American and British culture, and music history, with important forays into such topics as the Civil Rights Movement, second and third wave feminism, and post-war life.

Sean MacLeod is a songwriter, music producer, and lecturer from Dublin, Ireland. He has been writing and producing music for more than twenty-five years and teaches courses in music and media at the Limerick College of Further Education. He wrote Leaders of the Pack: Girl Groups of the 1960s and Their Influence on Popular Culture in Britain and America (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015).

Chapter 1: Teenagers, Rock 'n' Roll and Post War Liberation Chapter 2: The Shirelles and the Beginning of The Girl Group Era Chapter 3: Phil Spector Girl Groups: The Crystals and the Ronettes Chapter 4: Motown Girl Groups: The Marvelettes, The Supremes, and The Vandellas Chapter 5: The Shangri-Las and the End of The Girl Group Era Chapter 6: Girl Groups, Girl Bands, and 60s Pop Chapter 7: The Girl Groups' Legacy: The 70s Chapter 8: The Girl Groups' Legacy: The 80s Chapter 9: Material Girls Madonna Chapter 10: Modern Girls: The Spice Girls to Lady Ga Ga Notes Bibliography Index