Sign-In
Cart
From Soul to Funk How a Nation Rewrote Its Sound After King
Paperback
Black American HistoryBlues & SoulMusic Reference
Publisher: Serena Capuozzo
Published: Mar 22 2026
Pages: 182
Weight: 0.48
Height: 0.42 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
In the spring of 1968, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. sent shockwaves through the United States, politically, socially, and culturally. But beyond the headlines and history books, something less obvious, yet equally profound, was happening. America's soundtrack was changing.
From Soul to Funk tells the gripping story of that transformation.
This is not just a book about music; it's a story about power, identity, and reinvention in an industry forced to confront a new reality. In the wake of national grief and growing unrest, the polished optimism of early soul music began to fracture. In its place emerged something bolder, grittier, and impossible to ignore: funk.
Through vivid storytelling and behind-the-scenes insight, this book traces how visionaries like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and George Clinton didn't just make music; they rewrote the rules of American culture. At the same time, industry architects like Berry Gordy navigated shifting markets and audiences, discovering that the old formulas for crossover success no longer applied.
What emerges is a high-stakes narrative of ambition, conflict, and creativity. Artists broke free from carefully managed images. Studios gambled on untested sounds. Audiences, Black and white, grappled with a new, more honest reflection of America itself.
From the rise of politically charged anthems to the birth of the groove-driven sound that would shape hip-hop, R&B, and modern pop, From Soul to Funk reveals how a moment of national tragedy sparked a cultural revolution that still echoes today.
Compelling, deeply human, and rich with insight, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand not just how music changed, but how America did.
Also from
Wolbrook, Julia
Sisters of the Revolution Black Women, the Black Panther Party, and the Fight for True Freedom
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Called to Deliver Black Midwives, Faith, and Childbirth in the American South, 1808-1950
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Blood for the Gods Human Sacrifice in Ancient Greece from the Bronze Age to the Classical World
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Canal of Fire How the Erie Canal Ignited America's Religious Revolution
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Secret Sisterhood How Women Powered the Rise of the Ku Klux Klan and Shaped American History
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Seeds of Liberty Faith, Migration, and Power in the Making of the American Revolution
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Last Orchestra of Auschwitz Music, Resistance, and Survival in the Nazi Death Camps
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Black Wall Street in Flames The Tulsa Race Massacre and the Cultural Trauma of African Americans
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Trial of Silence Pope Pius XII, Antisemitism, and the Judgment of History
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Bride of God Mystical Marriage and Spiritual Ecstasy in Medieval Women's Lives
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Woman Who Forgave Ravensbrück The Extraordinary Journey of Corrie ten Boom
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Beyond the Indigo Fields Women, Slavery, Resistance, and Agricultural Innovation in the Making of Colonial America
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Prophet of Hitler Joseph Goebbels, Political Religion, and the Radio That Built the Third Reich
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Jonestown Was Inevitable Cold War Paranoia, Cult Fear, and the Making of America's Most Infamous Massacre
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Frontier of Empire The Osage, U.S. Expansion, and the Conquest of Native America
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Voices Behind the Wire The Secret Language of Survival in Nazi Concentration Camps
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Hidden Cartographers Indigenous Maps and the Making of the American West
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Stolen Earth, Stolen Power How the Dawes Act Broke Native Nations and Silenced Their Women
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The House of Rothschild Banking, Power, and the Making of the British Empire
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
A Special Relationship Mackenzie King, Franklin Roosevelt, and the Making of Modern Canada-U.S. Relations
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Omaha Beach: Triumph and Tragedy on D-Day The Untold Story of America's Bloodiest Invasion
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Stonewall Made Lee The Truth Behind Robert E. Lee's Victories and His Failure at Gettysburg
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Shadow War in Cuba The CIA, Counter-revolution, and the Battle for the Cuban Revolution, 1959-1963
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Man Who Saved Mengele's Twins Leadership, Survival, and Moral Courage Inside Auschwitz Concentration Camp
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Rivalry That Shaped a Nation Hamilton, Adams, and the Power Struggle Behind the Election of 1800
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Pearl Harbor Controversy Secrecy, Politics, and Responsibility in Wartime America
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Sacred Hills and the Shrine of Democracy Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, and the Struggle Over American Memory
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Gospel of a Leader Martin Luther King Jr., Christian Faith, and the Spiritual Power of the Civil Rights Movement
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
The Forgotten Pirates How Maritime Outlaws Shaped Politics, Trade, and Power in the Medieval World
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Jedburgh The Secret Teams Behind D-Day and the Birth of Modern Special Forces
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Faces of Empire Physiognomy, Soul, and the Secret Portrait of Julius Caesar and Augustus in the Roman Empire
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Dressed Against the Law Sex Workers, Power, and Gender Defiance in Ancient Rome
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Augustus and the Invention of Empire Egypt, Propaganda, and the Making of Roman Power
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
How Roman Families Survived Work, Women, Wages, and Urban Life in the Roman Empire
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Inside Iran's Hidden Economy Clerics, Militias, and the Power Behind the Islamic Republic
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Words That Killed Propaganda, Anti-Semitism, and Criminal Responsibility of Julius Streicher in Nazi Germany
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Bones of the Empire Ancient Diets, Isotopes and the Hidden Population of Machu Picchu
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
When Democracy Collapses The Hidden Forces Behind Hitler's Rise and the Foundation of the Nazi Party
Wolbrook, Julia
Paperback
Also in
Music Reference
Designed for Hi-Fi Living: The Vinyl LP in Midcentury America
Borgerson, Janet
Schroeder, Jonathan
Paperback
Must-See Sci-Fi: 50 Movies That Are Out of This World
de Forest, Sloan
Turner Classic Movies
Paperback
Nothing But Love in God's Water: Volume 1: Black Sacred Music from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement
Darden, Robert
Hardcover
Smash!: Green Day, the Offspring, Bad Religion, Nofx, and the '90s Punk Explosion
Winwood, Ian
Hardcover
Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland
Kahn, Ashley
Hardcover
With a Little Help from Their Friends: The Beatles and the People Who Made Them
Maconie, Stuart
Hardcover
Here Beside the Rising Tide: Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead, and an American Awakening
Newton, Jim
Hardcover
Emo Revival: Community, Diy, and Rebirth in Post-Hardcore and Emo (2008-2018)
Sacher, Andrew
Paperback
Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion
Deville, Chris
Hardcover
Punk in 50 Pieces: Punk Rock, Post-Punk, New Wave, and the Five Years That Changed Pop Music Forever
Dettmar, Kevin
Hardcover
Bust a Move: Matt Dike, Delicious Vinyl, and the Hip-Hop Hits That First Conquered Pop
Relic, Peter
Hardcover
Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles
Emerick, Geoff
Massey, Howard
Paperback
Raised on Radio: Power Ballads, Cocaine & Payola - The Aor Glory Years 1976-1986
Rees, Paul
Hardcover
The Cello Who Loved Me: An accidental pilgrimage to master the world's most beautiful instrument
Sorensen, George
Paperback
Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001-2011
Goodman, Lizzy
Paperback
Where Are Your Boys Tonight?: The Oral History of Emo's Mainstream Explosion 1999-2008
Payne, Chris
Paperback
Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991
Azerrad, Michael
Paperback
Stradivari's Genius: Five Violins, One Cello, and Three Centuries of Enduring Perfection
Faber, Toby
Paperback
Burning Down the House: Talking Heads and the New York Scene That Transformed Rock
Gould, Jonathan
Hardcover
This Is What It Sounds Like: A Legendary Producer Turned Neuroscientist on Finding Yourself Through Music
Rogers, Susan
Ogas, Ogi
Paperback
Raps of Resistance: How Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole Reignited a Hip-Hop Tradition
McCool, Jeremy C.
Hopkins, Earl
Hardcover
Quadrivium: The Four Classical Liberal Arts of Number, Geometry, Music, & Cosmology
Ashton, Anthony
Sutton, Daud
Lundy, Miranda
Hardcover
Made on Earth for Rising Stars: The Electro-Harmonix Story
Scott, Josh
Danger, Daniel
Epstein, Dan
Paperback
Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey
Brewster, Bill
Broughton, Frank
Paperback
Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day
Selvin, Joel
Paperback
Beethoven's Hair: An Extraordinary Historical Odyssey and a Scientific Mystery Solved
Martin, Russell
Paperback
Positively Fourth and Mercer: The Inside Story of New York's Iconic Music Club, the Bottom Line
Pepper, Allan
Altman, Billy
Hardcover
Let's Spend the Night Together: Backstage Secrets of Rock Muses and Supergroupies
Des Barres, Pamela
Paperback
Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us about the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves
Riva, Chris Dalla
Hardcover
Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll
Hawkins, Martin
Escott, Colin
Paperback
Mystery Train, 50th Anniversary Edition: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music
Marcus, Greil
Paperback
The Jazz Barn: Music Inn, the Berkshires, and the Place of Jazz in American Life
Gennari, John
Hardcover
Deliver Me from Nowhere (Movie Tie-In): The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska
Zanes, Warren
Paperback
Ocean of Sound: Ambient Sound and Radical Listening in the Age of Communication
Toop, David
Paperback
The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962-1970
Lewisohn, Mark
Paperback
Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York That Changed Music Forever
Hermes, Will
Paperback
Pink Floyd All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track
Guesdon, Jean-Michel
Margotin, Philippe
Hardcover
Verdi With a Vengeance: An Energetic Guide to the Life and Complete Works of the King of Opera
Berger, William
Paperback
Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties
Wald, Elijah
Paperback
Are We Still Rolling? Studios, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll - One Man's Journey Recording Classic Albums
Brown, Phill
Paperback
Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments from Stage to Studio, the Ultimate Edition
Babiuk, Andy
Hardcover
The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band
Lee, Tommy
Neil, Vince
Sixx, Nikki
Paperback
A Century of Music Under the Stars: A History of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts and Robin Hood Dell
McCarthy, Jack
The Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Hardcover
How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music
Fensterstock, Alison
National Public Radio Inc
Hardcover
Willie, Waylon, and the Boys: How Nashville Outsiders Changed Country Music Forever
Fairbanks, Brian
Hardcover
A Modern Guide to Old World Singing: Concepts of the Swedish-Italian and Italian Singing Schools
Jones, David L.
Paperback
Making Rumours: The Inside Story of the Classic Fleetwood Mac Album
Caillat, Ken
Stiefel, Steve
Paperback