“If you’re a fan of popular music and you want to know more about it, you should know the name ‘Michael Corcoran’– Marshall Crenshaw WFUV’s “Bottomless Pit.” “Corcoran has few rivals for following a story to its logical conclusion, then refining it into a seamless narrative. Even the means of reporting become part of the […]
“Ghost notes” is a musical term for sounds barely audible, a wisp lingering around the beat, yet somehow driving the groove. The Texas musicians profiled here, ranging from 1920s gospel performers to the first psychedelic band, are generally not well known, but the impact of their early contributions on popular music is unmistakable. This beautiful Tim Kerr-illustrated collection provides more background on the Texas from which these artists sprang, fully formed.
Remastered CD of 1920’s gospel curiosity from East Texas, with 77 page booklet by Michael Corcoran. (The sole of Washington Phillips is not included.) Grammy-nominated. “Corcoran has few rivals for following a story to its logical conclusion, then refining it into a seamless narrative. Even the means of reporting become part of the stories.” Michael […]
Complete works of gospel piano pioneer Arizona Dranes, with a comprehensive booklet. Also Grammy-nominated. That’s the exciting part for Corcoran: the limitless possibilities of reporting on gospel music, a rich genre that’s not capitalized on by many music writers. – Texas Monthly $20 (includes shipping) via paypal. NPR did a 9-minute segment on this […]
Beautifully illustrated by the photos of Scott Newton and others, this book profiles 42 Texas musicians who left their mark and inspired others, including Janis Joplin, Lefty Frizzell, T-Bone Walker, Ella Mae Morse, King Curtis and Townes Van Zandt. “The best book ever written about Texas music,” – Joe Nick Patoski. $22-signed trade paperback (includes […]
