California Soul is one of the first books to explore the rich musical heritage and creativity of African Americans in California. Focusing on blues, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, and soul music, this collection describes the history, people, and places involved in shaping these musical styles. The authors explore a range of important topics, many scarcely touched upon before now. Relying primarily on oral histories, music recordings, newspaper articles and advertisements of the day, the essays provide insightful discussions of such diverse topics as jazz in the heyday of Central Avenue in Los Angeles, how the California urban milieu has influenced gospel music, and the development of the West Coast blues style. Other essays offer rare insider perspectives on both the record industry's and radio's impact on the making of the music. The book concludes with an extensive compilation of source materials on African-American music and culture in California.

JACQUELINE COGDELL DJEDJE (Editor) is Professor of Ethnomusicology at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is the author of three monographs and numerous articles on the subjects of African and African-American music, and editor of African Musicology: Current Trends.

EDDIE S. MEADOWS (Co-editor) is Professor of Music at San Diego State University. He is the author of several jazz reference books, including Jazz Research and Performance Materials: A Selected Annotated Bibliography (1995).

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