There are songsbooks and then there are books on the history and culture of music and its accompanying traditions [dance, games, accompaniment traditions such as off & on beat hand claps; 'plays' & promenades etc].

Since I LOVE to read, I'm wondering what other books should be next on my reading list.

Also, I thought that it might be a good idea to share the titles of some of the books on the history & culture of music that I have found interesting and informative.

So, in no particular order, here's 5 books I found to be good reading on the topic of music of African and African descent:

Samuel Floyd Jr; "The Power of Black Music:Interpreting Its History
                  from Africa to the United States"; Oxford;
                  New York, Oxford University Press, 1995


Samuel Charters; "The Roots of the Blues-An African Search";
                Boston; London,Marion Boyars, 1981

John Storm Roberts: "Black Music of Two Worlds:African, Caribbean,
                   Latin, and African-American Traditions"
                   New York, Simon & Shuster Macmillan, 1998   

Francis Bebey [translated by Josephine Bennett}:
             "African Music: A Peoples' Art";
             Chicago, Lawrence Hill Books, 1975

Warren L. d'Azevedo,editor; "The Traditional Artist In African
                            Societies", Bloomington,         
                            Indiana University Press, 1975

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What books on the history & culture of music did you find interesting and informative?