There Was a Fire

The first comprehensive examination of Jewish influence and participation in the American popular music business, covering composers, publishers, performers, executives, producers, technical innovations, etc., from the turn of the 19th century until the end of the 20th century, from Irving Berlin to the Beastie Boys and beyond. In the words of one writer, "Sidran is a warm, funny, and authoritative guide in this thrilling, adventurous social history of popular music...part textbook, part family history, the insightful section on Dylan alone is worth several times the price of the book. A must-read for all music-lovers."