If you want the definitive history of pop vocal groups from the 1940s to the new millennium, Grammy Award-winning music publisher Jay Warner fills that rather tall order with American Singing Groups: A History From 1940 to Today. This is a big, heavy book chock full of facts, anecdotes, photos and stories about all the artists you know and love, and many you’ve never heard of by name (although you may have heard their music!).

Divided into decades, the book lists the vocal groups within each decade in alphabetical order, so it’s a breeze to find your favorite group quickly. Or you can just slowly thumb through the pages of this amazing collection and learn all about the bands and singers that created magic with music. Each entry is filled with detailed information about the group, key members, discographies, and plenty of other facts accompanied by photos sure to bring back memories. There is also a great deal of information the author himself gleaned from his many interviews with artists, as well as his own experiences in the publishing business working with top artists such as Earth, Wind and Fire, the Whispers, and others.

Warner includes an introduction into each decade that summarizes the musical history made at the time, and this book truly is like having a complete encyclopedia of singing groups. But in no way is this a dry read. Rather, it is filled with fun anecdotes and insight that keeps the tone lively and just as exciting as the music itself. As a record collector and music historian, Warner shares his passion for these groups and offers up perhaps the best, most comprehensive music book of the year - a must-have for any music fan of any age.

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