British author John Broven’s Walking to New Orleans was the first book on the Crescent City’s vaunted R&B legacy, and to many it remains the definitive work. Focusing on the recordings of Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Earl King, Art and Aaron Neville, and many others both famous and obscure, Broven weaves in the history of record labels, commentary by Doctor John and legendary studio engineer Cosimo Matassa, record charts, and related topics ranging from the musicians’ union to jukeboxes. Many of the stories are told in the artists’ own words, based on extensive interviews by Broven and others. A short addendum, ‘New Orleans 1978’ by Tad Jones, was published with the U.S. edition, Rhythm & Blues in New Orleans. Walking to New Orleans: The Story of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues was initially published by Blues Unlimited, 1974 and then published in U.S. as Rhythm & Blues in New Orleans by Pelican, 1978.
