Wow! eBook
Rocket City Rock and Soul: Huntsville Musicians Remember the Sixties
Author(s): Jane DeNeefe (Author)
- Publisher: The History Press
- Publication Date: October 25, 2011
- Language: English
- Print length: 128 pages
- ISBN-10: 1609493702
- ISBN-13: 9781609493707
Book Description
In a state widely considered ground zero for civil rights struggles, Huntsville became an unlikely venue for racial reconciliation. Huntsville’s recently formed NASA station drew new residents from throughout the country, and across the world, to the Rocket City. This influx of fresh perspectives informed the city’s youth. Soon, dozens of vibrant rock bands and soul groups, characteristic of the era but unique in Alabama, were formed. Set against the bitter backdrop of segregation, Huntsville musicians–black and white–found common ground in rock and soul music. Whether playing to desegregated audiences, in desegregated bands or both, Huntsville musicians were boldly moving forward, ushering in a new era. Through interviews with these musicians, local author Jane DeNeefe recounts this unique and important chapter in Huntsville’s history.
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Jane DeNeefe, coauthor of Alabama’s Civil Rights Trail: An Illustrated Guide to the Cradle of Freedom, lives in Huntsville, Alabama. A former bookseller and community columnist for the Huntsville Times, she has contributed to the WLRH public radio program Writer’s Corner, the web magazine Swampland: Cultures of the South, Encyclopedia of Alabama and other publications. DeNeefe earned a BA in history from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
