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Subject Guide » Music: General

Biographies

6 resources available.
restricted - Restricted to WMU users open access - Open Access

Biographies (books) are shelved at ML 385-ML 429. Major categories: Composers, ML 410; Instrumental performers, ML 416-419; Vocalists, ML 420; Conductors, ML 422. Collected biographies are at ML 385-406. Each category includes musicians of all styles (classical, jazz, pop, folk, etc.).

Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians
Centennial Edition
Ref ML 105 .B16 2001
One of the most comprehensive biographical dictionaries, covering composers, performers, and other music personalities in classical, jazz, and popular music.

Baker's Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Classical Musicians
Ref ML 105 .S612 1997
Same format as the big Baker's, but with a 20th-century focus.

Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Popular Musicians since 1990
Includes personalities in rock, pop, hip-hop, blues, electronica, musical theater, soundtrack, classical, country, R&B, jazz, folk, latin, and world music. Includes selective discography, bibliography, and websites. More info

Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music
Ref ML 385 .C615
Each volume profiles a number of musicians-classical, jazz, rock, country, religious, etc.-and has a cumulative index to the set.

Necrology File from Gaylord Music Library, Washington UniversityProvides musicians' death dates and indexes obituaries. Updated frequently.

Biographical Information GuideAn in-depth guide to finding biographical information at WMU libraries with an extensive list of print and online sources.

Librarian's Comment: Many general sources contain biographies of composers, performers, etc.

Ask A Librarian

Greg Fitzgerald, E-mail: gregory.fitzgerald@wmich.edu
Phone: 269-387-5236
Last updated: May 2008

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