[Dixielandjazz] Enews release for JAZZ AND DEATH

[Steve Yates (UPM)]

{ SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1}Dear Dixielandjazz=97

Dr. Frederick Spencer asked me to send this release to you.

I wanted you to know about a new book from our press. 
I=92ve attached a news release below. If you know of others 
who would appreciate the news, I encourage you to pass 
this release along. If you have questions, please email me at 
{   HYPERLINK "mailto:syates@ihl.state.ms.us." }syates@ihl.state.ms.us.

Thanks for taking a look at the release.

Cordially,
Steve Yates
University Press of Mississippi

JAZZ AND DEATH: MEDICAL PROFILES OF JAZZ GREATS
By Frederick J. Spencer, M.D. 
University Press of Mississippi
$35.00, hardback, ISBN 1-57806-453-8

                                      Book News for Immediate Release

              Doctor sets out to right wrongs in jazz 
                          historical record

Reading biographies of the jazz greats, Dr. Frederick J. 
Spencer often found something lacking.

=93The careers of many jazz musicians may have been 
accurately documented,=94 Spencer writes in the introduction 
to his new book JAZZ AND DEATH: MEDICAL PROFILES OF 
JAZZ GREATS (University Press of Mississippi), =93but 
accounts of their illnesses and deaths often vary and lack 
conviction.=94

In the COMPLETE IDIOT=92S GUIDE TO JAZZ, Scott Joplin is 
reported to have =93suffered a total nervous collapse in 1911 
and was ultimately consigned to an insane asylum in 1916. 
A year later, he was dead.=94

Not so, says Spencer. =93Joplin=92s nervous collapse was syphilis 
and was far from total in 1911. He was not admitted to a 
hospital until 1917, and then died within two months.=94

With a physician=92s care, Spencer conducts an inquest on 
how jazz greats lived and died pursuing their art. In the 
book, forensics, medical histories, death certificates, and 
biographies divulge the way many musical virtuosos really 
died.

Creating an essential reference source, JAZZ AND DEATH 
strives to correct misinformation and set the story straight. 
Reviewing the medical records of such jazz icons as Scott 
Joplin, James Reese Europe, Bennie Moten, Tommy Dorsey, 
Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Wardell Gray, and Ronnie 
Scott, the book spans decades, styles, and causes of death.

Divided into disease categories, it covers such illnesses as 
ALS (Lou Gehrig=92s Disease) that killed Charlie Mingus, and 
tuberculosis that caused the deaths of Chick Webb, Charlie 
Christian, Bubber Miley, Jimmy Blanton, and Fats Navarro. It 
notes the significance of dental disease in affecting a 
musician=92s embouchure and livelihood, and discusses visual 
impairment, blindness, and alcohol, heroin, and tobacco 
addiction, cancer, and many other killers.

With JAZZ AND DEATH, the causes behind the great jazz 
funerals may no longer be misconstrued. Its clinical and 
morbidly entertaining approach creates an invaluable 
compendium for jazz fans and scholars alike.

Frederick J. Spencer is a professor and associate dean 
emeritus of the School of Medicine (Medical College of 
Virginia) at Virginia Commonwealth University.  He has 
been published in the NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF 
MEDICINE, JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL 
ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, and 
MODERN MEDICINE, among other publications.


                                # # #

For more information contact Steven B. Yates, Assistant 
Marketing Manager/Promotions, 601.432.6459, e-mail 
syates@ihl.state.ms.us.{   HYPERLINK "http://www.upress.state.ms.us" }http=
://www.upress.state.ms.us
Read more about it at:
http://www.upress.state.ms.us/catalog/spring2002/jazz_and_de
ath.html
Steven B. Yates
Assistant Marketing Manager/Promotions
University Press of Mississippi
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211
SYates@ihl.state.ms.us
Ph  601.432.6459
Fax 601.432.6217

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