Book Description
A fascinating look into how Judaism has shaped and influenced the makers of rock music over the past fifty years.
From the Publisher
7x10 trim. 77 illus.
About the Author
SCOTT R. BENARDE, who has an M.A. from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, is the former rock music columnist for the Palm Beach Post and the South Florida Sun Sentinel. As a freelance journalist, Benarde has been published in Rolling Stone, Musician, Billboard, Variety, and a host of Jewish publications. He lives with his wife and two children in Delray Beach, Florida.
Stars of David: Rock 'n' Roll's Jewish Stories FROM THE PUBLISHER
Inspired by a backstage conversation with David Lee Roth in which the rock star revealed that he first learned to sing preparing for his bar mitzvah, Scott R. Benarde spent five years investigating the Jewish contribution to rock music from 1953 to the present, combining his own love of Judiasm, journalism, and rock 'n' roll. Noting that outside of the Christian rock genre the media had rarely dealt with a rock star's religion or spirituality (with the exception of Bob Dylan), Benarde was determined to find out how Judaism influenced rock music and the people who created it.
Focusing on these musicians, singers, and songwriters, Stars of David offers a collection of short vignettes that demonstrates the rich strand of Jewish belief and sentiment that underscores the work of many of the best-known rock stars of our time. Among those discussed or interviewed are the legendary songwriting teams of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Barry Mann and Cynthia Well; performers such as Bob Dylan, Melissa Manchester, Janis Ian, Randy Newman, Bill Joel, Kinky Friedman (of the Texas Jewboys), and David Lee Roth; and members of groups such as the Tokens, Jay and the Americans, Country Joe and the Fish, Yes, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bon Jovi, Phish, the Wallflowers, and many others.
Benarde reveals how Judaism has played a greater role in rock music than we realize and discovers that many Jewish rockers are more in tune with their Judaism than we would have imagined. Based largely on one-on-one interviews with the artists, this work presents a personal and introspective consideration of faith, art, and the relationship between pop culture and spirituality. Also revealed is the sheer varietyof the Jewish experience in rock 'n' roll: from the deeply religious childhood of some to the late-in-life religious reawakening of others; from the explicit use of scripture in song to the subtle yet resonant religious motifs that influence this most secular musical genre. With entertaining anecdotes and personal revelations enhanced by more than seventy photographs, Stars of David is not so much about how Jewish these artists are but ultimately, how they are Jewish, and how their Jewishness has affected rock 'n' roll.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
Former rock newspaper columnist Benarde, inspired by a chance remark by David Lee Roth that he learned to sing at his Bar Mitzvah, decided to compile 57 brief sketches of Jewish rock'n'rollers. He deals with stars and icons such as Bob Dylan, Mike Bloomfield, Country Joe McDonald, Billy Joel, and lesser lights such as Marcella Detroit and Wendy Waldman. Some of his subjects became famous as musicians and others, such as Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil, gained recognition as songwriters. Some of the featured artists cherish their Jewish faith, while others, such as Manfred Mann and Randy Newman, consider themselves atheists. Throughout this survey, Benarde focuses on the Jewish roots and faith of the artists within the context of their musical careers but only infrequently connects his subjects' Jewish backgrounds to their rock output. Despite its unique focus, the book seldom provides enough new material or insights about the music to interest rock'n'roll diehards. It will be most appropriate for a niche audience with a penchant for learning about the religious beliefs of popular musicians.-Dave Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Art & Photography
Book Info
