Mar 31: Joe Boyd with Dust-to-Digital's Lance Ledbetter
Mar 31, 7 PM ET • Atlanta, GA: Manuel’s Tavern • 602 North Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30307
From the legendary producer of Nick Drake, R.E.M., Toots and the Maytals, and Pink Floyd and author of "White Bicycles: Making Music" in the 1960s comes a riveting, world-spanning tour de force illuminating the artists, histories, controversies, and collaborations that shaped global music.
A Cappella Books is delighted to welcome legendary music producer and author Joe Boyd to celebrate his book, “And the Roots of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music.” The author will appear in conversation with Lance Ledbetter, founder of Dust-to-Digital, an Atlanta-based record label dedicated to preserving rare and historically significant recordings.
This event is free and open to the public. Copies of “And the Roots of Rhythm Remain” will be available for purchase.
About the Book
“You haven’t heard this before!” the accordion flourish seemed to proclaim. Paul Simon told Joe Boyd that he immediately knew it would open “Graceland,” the multi-platinum album that helped usher in the 1980s “world music” boom. Yet that movement had roots extending back through the decades and across continents: tango on the eve of World War I, Latin dance across the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, reggae in the ’70s, pre-War samba and pre-Beatles bossa nova, Eastern European ensembles filling capitalist concert halls during the Cold War, Indian ragas changing rock and roll in the 1960s, the folk music–inspired classical composers of the 19th and 20th centuries.
In this sweeping history compiled from more than a decade of travel, research, interviews, and deep listening, Boyd explores centuries of fascinating backstories to these sounds. He shows how personalities, events, and politics in places such as Havana, Lagos, Budapest, Kingston, and Rio are as colorful and momentous as anything that took place in New Orleans, Harlem, Laurel Canyon, or Liverpool. Moreover, he reveals how jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock ‘n’ roll would never have happened if it weren’t for the notes and rhythms emanating from over the horizon.
“The Roots of Rhythm Remain” is a glorious, symphonic celebration of the music that shapes our world.
About the Author
Joe Boyd is a legendary music producer, writer, and global music historian. As the founder of Witchseason Productions, he was instrumental in launching the careers of iconic artists such as Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, The Incredible String Band, and Vashti Bunyan. He produced the first-ever U.S. tour of Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and later worked with artists such as R.E.M., Toots and the Maytals, and Pink Floyd.
Boyd’s memoir, “White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s,” is widely regarded as one of the greatest books about the music industry ever written. His passion for uncovering the interconnected roots of global music has led him to decades of research, interviews, and production work around the world. “And the Roots of Rhythm Remain” is his most ambitious and sweeping work yet, offering a deeply researched and vividly told exploration of the cultural intersections that have shaped modern music.
About the Conversation Partner
Lance Ledbetter is the founder of Dust-to-Digital, an acclaimed Atlanta-based record label dedicated to preserving and celebrating rare and historically significant music from around the world. Since launching the label in 2003, Ledbetter has spearheaded a number of Grammy-winning archival releases, including the groundbreaking “Goodbye, Babylon,” a six-CD box set of gospel music that earned widespread acclaim.
Through Dust-to-Digital, Ledbetter has played a key role in reviving forgotten and overlooked recordings, ensuring that influential but underappreciated artists receive the recognition they deserve. His expertise in historical recordings and global music makes him an ideal conversation partner for Joe Boyd, as they explore the intersections of history, culture, and sound.
About the Venue
https://www.acappellabooks.com/
For more information on And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain, please reach out to Matt Hanks (mhanks@shorefire.com), Chris Taillie (ctaillie@shorefire.com), and Henry Thomas (hthomas@shorefire.com) at Shore Fire Media.
From the legendary producer of Nick Drake, R.E.M., Toots and the Maytals, and Pink Floyd and author of White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s comes a riveting, world-spanning tour de force illuminating the artists, histories, controversies, and collaborations that shaped global music.
Hardcover Release: Sep 24, 2024
Hardcover ISBN: 9798988670025 • 960 pages • two 16-page full-color photo inserts
Paperback Release: Apr 1, 2025
Paperback ISBN: 9798988670056 • 968 pages • two 16-page full-color photo inserts
