Thought We Were Writing the Blues: But They Called It Rock & Roll - Softcover

Corsano, Arlene

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0990834301 ISBN 13: 9780990834304

Publisher: ArleneChristine LLC, 2014

Synopsis

"Thanks to the many detailed quotes from McCoy herself, this book has the vibrancy missing from other, drier books written about the period. McCoy's tales of the Brill Building era paint a fascinating picture as she encounters and gains the respect of all the male movers and shakers of the business. A genuine first-hand account of the music scene in pre-60s New York and how McCoy paved the way for writers such as Carole King and Ellie Greenwich." Kingsley Abbott for Record Collector Magazine. "She knew how to hang in there with the big boys. Women didn't have a place, so she made a place for herself." singer Maxine Brown. Nearly everyone has heard a Rose Marie McCoy song, but few know her name, even though many of the over 850 songs she had written were recorded by some of the biggest names in the business. Elvis Presley, Nat "King" Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Ike & Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Peggy Lee; the list goes on and on. And she did it as an independent songwriter, without the backing of a music publisher to promote her work. Quite a feat for a poor black farmers daughter from Arkansas.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

"I don't know of any other songwriter with the kind of track record Rose Marie McCoy has. Her songs have been recorded by so many legendary artists in such a diversity of styles: blues, jazz, rock, rhythm & blues, country, pop, gospel. It's mind boggling what she has done."AL BELL, Former owner of Stax Records & past president of Motown Records Group.               ----------------------                        "She knew how to hang in there with the big boys. Everyone was scraping to get there, but it was always men. They were the producers, they were the promoters, they were the piano players. Women didn't have a place, so she made a place for herself."  MAXINE BROWN, Singer/Songwriter----------------------"In the 1950s Rose Marie McCoy, a genuine pioneer, paved the way for the next generation of women songwriters, namely the brilliant Brill Building specialists, Ellie Greenwich, Carole King, and Cynthia Weil. Just as significant, Rosie contributed to the crossover from segregated rhythm & blues to international rock 'n' roll. That's a tremendous legacy, as this welcome biography shows."JOHN BROVEN, Author of Record Makers & Breakers, Rhythm & Blues to New Orleans, and South to Louisiana         ------------------------Had it not been for a chance meeting between Rose Marie McCoy and Arlene Corsano, the amazing story of this prolific songwriter might have been lost forever. What a shame that would be, for hers is not only a fascinating music business tale, it is also the heartwarming rags-to-riches story of a woman blessed with the necessary personal qualities to be successful: determination, self-assurance, persistence, and the propensity to take risks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

About the Author:

Had it not been for a 2001 chance meeting between Rose Marie McCoy and Arlene Corsano, the details of this amazing songwriter might have been lost forever. Corsano had been writing articles for newspapers and magazines when she met the fascinating, but nearly forgotten, Rose Marie McCoy. With the intention of correcting an important piece of music history Corsano then introduced McCoy’s legacy to several institutions which have since honored this legendary songwriter, including the Smithsonian Institute and the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame. The writer feels blessed to have been friends with the talented, determined, warm and witty Rose Marie McCoy.

About this edition

• Publisher: ArleneChristine LLC
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0990834301
• ISBN 13: 9780990834304
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 228