Drawn from NPR Music’s acclaimed, groundbreaking series Turning the Tables, the definitive book on the vital role of Women in Music—from Beyoncé to Odetta, Taylor Swift to Joan Baez, Joan Jett to Dolly Parton—featuring archival interviews, essays, photographs, and illustrations.
Turning the Tables, launched in 2017, has revolutionized recognition of female artists, whether it be in best album lists or in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music brings an impressive reshaping of the history of women in music, drawing on over fifty years of NPR’s coverage alongside newly commissioned work. This essential read for music fans, songwriters, feminist historians, and anyone curious about the creative process features notable figures reflecting on their art. Joan Baez discusses nonviolence as a musical principle in 1971, while Dolly Parton shares the story behind her favorite song. Patti Smith describes art as her “jealous mistress” in 1974, and Nina Simone reveals how she honed the edge in her voice as a tool against racism in 2001. Taylor Swift opens up about the uncertainty she faced early in her career, and Odetta reflects on how her shift from classical to folk music allowed her to channel her fury over Jim Crow.
This incomparable hardcover volume is a vital record of history destined to become a classic and a great gift for any music fan or creative thinker.