A look at race relations in the United States as seen through the prism of music from slavery to the present. Equal parts social history and pop culture, this book argues that no form of American music can be described as ethnically pure, and fleshes out the tug-of-war between blacks and whites as they create, recreate, and claim each innovation in popular music. Taking a thought-provoking look at how genres such as rock 'n' roll, rhythm 'n blues, jazz, blues, soul, country, and hip-hop emerged through changing times and the dynamic personalities that shaped them, author Kevin Phinney chronicles the history of American music through its succession of black and white composers, performers, and entrepreneurs who have stepped into the limelight with one set of rules in place and departed having transformed not only the music, but society as well. By using each era's greatest successes as a roadmap, he connects the signposts of America's musical evolution and societal shifts into a panoramic whole.--From publisher description.