Rise Up presents readers with an encyclopedic view of the Native-American experience in music. The book is chock full of information; however, I wish the book was more theoretical in its construction. It is hard to keep up with the massive amount of data that is being presented to us by the writer. I appreciate the history...but I would have liked more in the way of analysis.

This is a historical perspective on the Indigenous people's contribution to American music. There is a Native American Music Awards which acknowledges the artists. Most of you are familiar with Buffy St. Marie, but did you know that Robbie Robertston of the Band, Jimi Hendrix, Willie Nelson, Rita Coolidge, Hank Williams, Richie Valens and the Neville Brothers were all recognized as Native American musicians? The artist that I was familiar with was Jesse Ed Davis, who was a very talented guitarist and session musician that record on many popular albums. If you listen to Jackson Brown's Doctor My Eyes, you will Jessie Ed Davis playing. Redbone was another Native American band that had had a hit that topped the charts with Come and Get Your Love (the song at the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy). Redbone's band included the brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas, and Pat's son PJ Vegas is a recording artist in Los Angeles.

In a world that has tried to assimilate indigenous people, indigenous musicians help keep traditional narratives, beliefs and language alive through their music. I enjoyed reading the stories of the musicians and what their music represents. I was only aware of a handful of indigenous musicians - this book has given me so many more to check out.
#RiseUp! #NetGalley

I watched an old documentary, with Itzhak Perlman, believe, and the history of American music. With the history of Native American music, it was stated that tradition did not survive in American music.

Bunk. It's been here from the start, what you call American Rock... Yeah, they were there, their roots have always been there but perhaps you didn't recognize that.

So... start here, this book!

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher University of Nebraska Press, Bison Books for an advanced copy on this book the role of Indigenous peoples in the musical history of America.

Working in a music store with people who really enjoyed not only music, but finding out more about music, and sharing with others taught me a lot about the way that American musical history is presented. As with most history in America the role of minorities is down played, except in instances where it is impossible, than the easiest answer will be given. Yes Ike Turner might have a had a role in making the first rock song in Rocket 88, but unless one digs deeper one doesn't find the role non-whites in American music. Yes Jazz and Blues, but there is always a bit of white savior when it comes to blues and Jazz well is jazz. Indigenous people are hardly every mentioned. Again there is Buffy Sainte-Marie and Robbie Robertson, but I never really head of the the band Redbone until I was working in the music store. I had a co-worker who played some amazing Punk music from the Southwest, all made by Indigenous members. Boy I wish I could find those. And I became a fan of R. Carlos Nakai with his album Jackalope one of my favorites, and one of the few SynthacousticpunkarachiNavajazz albums out there. Thanks to this book I will have a lot more to listen too. Rise Up! Indigenous Music in North America by Author/photographer/educator/percussionist Craig Harris is a look at the role of Indigenous people in music, along with their influences, and a look at many of the modern musicians told in their own words to the author.

The book begins with a look at how Indigenous music influenced so many of the many genres in American music, including fold, jazz and blues. Harris discusses how the polyrythms of Africa mixed with drums of the people, creating in way something new and different. Readers learn about the fact that many musicians who were thought of as African-American were also Indigenous, but lack of curiosity, and sometimes plain racism made one race easier to be accepted as. Harris discusses many artists who share Indigenous ancestry, Willie Nelson and Hank Williams have Tsalagi ancestry in their family, along with Tina Turner, and Charlie Patton, Founder of the Delta Blues as his album states. From here the book expands in more biographical sketches and longer pieces of many modern musicians discussing their lives, music, influences, troubles, and how the draw on their past to make their music.

A book that was not what I expected, but really enjoyed. Harris is a very good writer, and probably has forgotten more about music, than I will ever know. As a writer and musician he can speak the language of music, understand and put into words the way a life can influence the creation of the music. The people are as different at the music that is discussed, which I enjoyed, a mix of old, and new, with old ways of playing, mixed with dance and techno. A book that fills the mind as well as the ears with quite a lot of entertainment, as one can find the music being discussed listen to it, and get the full grasp. The information is fascinating, and really educational, where as the profiles, are full of love for music, for people, but with problems from both music professionals, and others who might not be as open minded.

A very good book, a reference for fans of Indigenous music, or for people wanting to start. A very good holiday gift to find under the tree, along with some albums to go with it.

This is a really interesting compilation of anecdotes, and information regarding the various musicians of Indigenous heritage that have influenced the music world over time.
While I enjoyed the book- it seems more like a collection of related essays - rather than a book organized around a central theme. So, this is likely a book for reference and a great compilation for folks doing research and working on other projects regarding these musicians, for me as a reader, interested in music, it just didn’t have much to hold my attention.

This was interesting, but I should have read the description more carefully. I was looking for more of an objective reference book describing/reviewing the musicians' creations, but this is largely made up of autobiographical pieces about the musicians' lives with the music as one aspect of them.

Can be dipped into and skimmed according to your interest, as the chapters sort the music into various styles.

Thanks to Bison Books and NetGalley for the advance copy to review.