Jazz on the Barbary Coast surveys the black jazz scene of the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. At the heart of the book are the firsthand accounts of the very men who were in the thick of it: Sid LeProtti, Reb Spikes, Wesley Fields, Alfred Levy, and Charlie "Duke" Turner. Their descriptions vividly recreate the incredible energy of the San Francisco jazz scene-hot spots such as the Hippodrome, The Thalia and Purcell's; the marvelous cast of personalities; the groundbreaking acts.

The new introduction by Douglas Daniels, Professor of Black Studies at University of California at Santa Barbara, along with background chapters, locate the personal stories within the cultural and historical context of Black History and the history of jazz. Also included are 30 rare black-and-white photographs, many never before published.

Tom Stoddard began interviewing jazz pioneers and collecting jazz photos in the 1950s and has written many articles on the history of jazz. His book, Pops Foster-The Autobiography of a New Orleans Jazzman, was published by University of California Press in 1971. He currently lives in Petaluma, California.

Jazz on the Barbary Coast was previously published in England in limited quantity in the early 1980s. This edition, published cooperatively by the Foundation, the California Historical Society and Heyday Books, incorporates new material and photos. Foundation members will be able to purchase this valuable piece of research at a discount from the list price. See order form for details.

Read excerpts from the book.

Published in the Jazz on the Barbary Coast available on our Order Page. Get a discount when you Join the Foundation (only $25!).