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RELEASES
What Were You Listening to During the Summer of
Love?
Author Dwight Rounds discusses the golden era of
pop music
AUSTIN, Texas – This summer (2007) marks the 40th
anniversary of the Summer of Love, a time when America’s
youth dabbled in mind-altering drugs, practiced
peace and love and, perhaps most importantly, flocked
to world-famous rock-and-roll concerts, such as
the Monterey Pop Festival. The music that defined
this period in pop music history is still going
strong today—bands such as the Rolling Stones
and Crosby, Stills and Nash
are still touring, and the music of the Beatles
has been re-imagined for a whole new generation
with the popular Cirque du Soleil show, “Love.”
Author Dwight Rounds explores the lasting power
of this “golden era” of music in his
new book, The Year the Music Died (Bridgeway Books,
978-1-933538-69-3, $16.95, July 2007), providing
insight into popular music from 1964 to 1972. Rounds
says the best pop music in history was released
during this time period, beginning with the Beatles'
appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show”
in 1964 and descending into an oblivion of glam
rock and easy listening in 1972.
“Music from bands such as the Beatles, the
Doors and Jimi Hendrix still outclass music of the
past 35 years,” says Rounds, who once had
Roger McGuinn from the Byrds perform a private concert
at his house. “From baby boomers who listened
to the music when it was first released, to younger
listeners who are discovering it for the first time,
music from the 1960s and early 1970s has an indefinable,
lasting quality unlike any other era of pop music.”
The Year the Music Died also features quizzes,
trivia and little known facts about popular musicians
from yesteryear. Rounds offers his views as an avid
music fan on the best, worst and most underrated
songs of each band discussed, providing material
for a lively discussion among music enthusiasts.
The book also features single and album Billboard rankings, (all groups with a Gold album are listed somewhere in the book) and clips from
old magazines.
“The songs had melodies; bands relied on good
music instead of stage antics, pyrotechnics and
theatrics; and most popular groups wrote their own
music,” says Rounds, whose personal top 10
list of the greatest musicians during this time
period begins with John Lennon, Paul McCartney and
Keith Richards.
In an interview, Rounds can discuss:
• The top songs from the Summer of Love
• The lasting appeal of “golden era”
pop music
• The top 10 musicians from 1964-1972
• The continued popularity of bands such as
the Beatles, the Doors and the Rolling Stones
• Why British Invasion bands didn’t
sing with an English accent
• A possible new way to determine entry into
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Rounds currently resides in Austin, Texas, with
his wife, with whom he has two children. A self-employed
CPA from 1984 to 2006, Rounds enjoys playing golf
and tennis; coaching girls’ softball and boys’
baseball; and listening to pre-1972 pop music.
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To schedule an interview or to receive a review
copy of The Year the Music Died,
Please contact Amy Currie at (512) 478-2028 ext.
211 or acurrie@phenixpublicity.com.
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