Legendary bassist Melvin Gibbs shares new book tracing the history of Black music

Legendary bassist Melvin Gibbs has written a new book tracing the history of Black music over the decades, titled How Black Music Took Over the World.

The 300-page book is set to be released on April 14 via Basic Books, revealing “how [Black music’s] rhythmic structures and the long history of the African diaspora made it the world’s most popular form."

The book explores the roots of Black artistry with figures including Bob Marley, John Coltrane, and Aretha Franklin to today’s stars like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar.

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The GRAMMY-nominated musician tells the story through two “rhythmic building blocks” that he calls the “cell” and the “frame”, exploring how those tools take listeners to a “realm where sounds become vehicles for human movement."

“Reforged in the African diaspora in the Americas, they are played today on church organs, electric guitars, computers, telephones, or a simple gourd,” reads the book’s blurb.

“Kool & the Gang called Black musicians the “scientists of sound” – and Gibbs shows how they discovered the world’s music,” it continues.

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The book also looks at how Black music influenced genres in their fledgling stages, including rock, hip hop, country, pop, electronic and K-pop, forging the roots of many sounds and styles around the world.

How Black Music Took Over The World is described as an “unforgettable revelation of one of humanity’s greatest achievements”, posing the question of where it might be headed next.

Find out more about How Black Music Took Over The World here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Associate Digital Editor, follow her on X