RHODE ISLAND ROCKS
www.rirocks.net
This is a great site put together by a former Rhode Islander, Paul Fernandes, and his extended circle of friends. Primarily about the venues in Rhode Island which presented live music during the second half of the twentieth century, this is a great place to nail down your memories about who played where and when, both the national acts who performed at large venues like Rhode Island Auditorium and The Providence Civic Center, as well as the clubs which presented local talent – especially original bands – such as The Living Room and Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel. There is also extensive information about the wealth of retail record shops which proliferated in Rhode Island after the second World War, ranging from the behemoths like The Beacon Shops on North Main Street in Providence, to mom and pop stores such as its neighbor, Carl’s Diggins: The Best Of The Blues.
THE MUSIC MUSEUM OF NEW ENGLAND
www.mmone.org
Another terrific site that’s come together under the leadership of Steve Nelson, formerly manager of that most legendary of Massachusetts music venues, The Boston Tea Party. The site’s focus at this time is primarily on Boston artists, both those who made it to the big time, such as The J. Geils Band, and others who should have, such as The Neighborhoods. There’s also a wealth of information about Mass. venues and the people behind the scenes: the booking agents, artists management, disc jockeys, record producers, etc.
RHODE ISLAND MUSIC HISTORY
For those of you seeking in-depth information about the roots of the Rhode Island music scene stretching from the 1700s into the recording era, we recommend the following book available at Amazon.com, eBay, and other online booksellers:
Rhode Island’s Musical Heritage: An Exploration
Edited by Carolyn Livingston and Dawn Elizabeth Smith (©2008, Harmonie Park Press), the collection brings together twenty-six essays on diverse subjects of relevance to the social and cultural history of the United States. Through the lives, institutions, and events chronicled, the book gives readers an intimate view of music and music-making in Rhode Island, past and present. (Ms. Livingston is Professor Emeritus of Music at the University of Rhode Island; Ms. Smith is director of instrumental music at Westerly High School.)
RHODE ISLAND JAZZ HISTORY
For readers interested in learning more about the Rhode Island jazz history, we recommend the following book available at Amazon.com and other online booksellers:
Who’s Who In Rhode Island Jazz c. 1925-1998
Written by Lloyd S. Kaplan and Robert E. Petteruti (©1991, Consortium Publishing), this deceptively slim volume is an encyclopedia which contains entries on virtually every important player in Rhode Island jazz history in the 20th century and contains a lengthy and scholarly preface tracing the roots of the scene back of to its origins in vaudeville during the Roaring ’20s. (Mr. Kaplan, who is still active as a performer, was a Professor of Music at Community College Of Rhode Island for many years and is a member of the CCRI Hall Of Fame. Mr. Petteruti is the dean of upright bassists in Rhode Island Jazz and taught the instrument at Dean Junior College, CCRI and Brown University. He was also proprietor of Twin City Music in the Olneyville section of Providence, an independent store run by three generations which operated from 1932 to 2009.)
PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Art & Music Department
www.provlib.org
The library maintains a collection on Rhode Island musicians and composers (including a large collection of newspaper clippings) and they have a complete run of The Providence Journal available for further research.
150 Empire Street
Providence, RI 02903
pplref@provlib.org
405-455-8005