Avenue Breakdown by John M Shaw

Avenue Breakdown by John M Shaw

Avenue Breakdown uncovers the rich yet often overlooked legacy of Black music in Shreveport, Louisiana—a city better known for country tunes and the Louisiana Hayride. This compelling history shines a spotlight on the city’s vibrant postwar scene, where blues, R&B, jazz, soul, funk, and gospel thrived in Black neighborhoods despite the pressures of segregation and state-sanctioned violence.

From the iconic downtown record store of Stan Lewis to clubs that pulsed with the sound of legends, Shreveport fostered a dynamic music culture that drew producers and performers from across the region. Yet, systemic racism and economic decline eroded this cultural lifeblood, culminating in moments of unrest like the Cedar Grove Riot of 1988.

Spanning decades of music, struggle, and community resilience, Avenue Breakdown captures the power of sound to challenge, uplift, and endure. It’s a vital record of a city’s past and an invitation to consider what comes next for the music of the Ark-La-Tex.

John M. Shaw is an ethnomusicologist with an emphasis in musics of the African diaspora. He received his PhD from the University of Memphis in 2024. He is author of Following the Drums: African American Fife and Drum Music in Tennessee, published by University Press of Mississippi.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781496862662
ISBN 10	149686266X
Title	Avenue Breakdown
Author	John M Shaw
Series	American Made Music Series
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	University Press of Mississippi
Year published	2026-06-15
Number of pages	384
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.