Welcome to the June “Black Music Month” issue of Black Grooves. This month we’re featuring several new books to add to your summer reading list, including the autobiography of Chicago house music pioneer Jesse Saunders, the story of Bob Marley’s Wailers, the 2nd revised and expanded edition of the award winning Rap Records discography by Freddy Fresh, and Marcus Reeves’ examination of “Rap Music’s Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power.” Two fascinating documentaries are included: Stepping, which presents the history of Black Greek stepping culture; and Deep Roots Music, a six part program produced by the BBC in the 1980s that has been called “The Best Reggae Series Ever.” Wrapping up this issue is a review of the new Roots CD, as well as several historical CD compilations: Stax Does the Beatles (with some great soulful covers); Soulsville Sings Hitsville (Stax artists singing Motown hits); Warner Bros. Years: Hits, Remixes and Rarities (a tribute to the famous singer-songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson); and the series Chris Barber Presents The Blues Legacy ‘Lost & Found.’
