Encyclopedia of Musicians and Bands on Film

Musicians, both fictional and real, have long been subjects of cinema. From biopics of composers Beethoven and Mozart to the rise (and often fall) of imaginary bands in The Commitments and Almost Famous, music of all types has inspired hundreds of films. The Encyclopedia of Musicians and Bands on Film features the most significant productions from around the world, including straightforward biographies, rockumentaries, and even the occasional mockumentary. The wide-ranging scope of this volume allows for the inclusion of films about fictional singers and bands, with emphasis on a variety of themes: songwriter–band relationships, the rise and fall of a career, music saving the day, the promoter’s point of view, band competitions, the traveling band, and rock-based absurdity.

Among the films discussed in this book are Amadeus, The Blues Brothers, The Buddy Holly Story, The Commitments, Dreamgirls, The Glenn Miller Story, A Hard Day’s Night, I’m Not There, Jailhouse Rock, A Mighty Wind, Ray, ’Round Midnight, The Runaways, School of Rock, That Thing You Do!, and Walk the Line.With entries that span the decades and highlight a variety of music genres, The Encyclopedia of Musicians and Bands on Film is a valuable resource for moviegoers and music lovers alike, as well as scholars of both film and music.

Melissa U. D. Goldsmith is a visiting lecturer in the department of music at Westfield State University. She has published articles on film music and popular music for The Journal of Film Music, The Journal of American Music, Choice, Notes, and Screening the Past.

Paige A. Willson is assistant professor of costume design and technology at the University of Houston. As a costume designer and mask artisan, she has worked with many groups nationwide, such as the Alley Theatre, the Houston Shakespeare Festival, Karen Stokes Dance, and the Stephan Koplowitz Task Force.

Anthony J. Fonseca is library director at Elms College. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including Hooked on Horror, Hooked on Horror II, Hooked on Horror III: A Guide toReading Interests (2009), and Encyclopedia of the Zombie (2014).