Barry Kernfeld is a saxophonist, the editor of The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (1988; 2nd ed., 2001), and the author of What to Listen for in Jazz (1995). He is also the staff archivist in the Historical Collections and Labor Archives within the Special Collections Library at the Pennsylvania State University.

• Part 1 List of FiguresPart 2 Editor's ForewardPart 3 Introduction and AcknowledgmentsChapter 4 1. The Tune-Dex: A Card Catalogue for the Music IndustryChapter 5 2. The Growth of Cocktail Lounges: Musicians Need Tune-Dex, TooChapter 6 3. Songs and Copyright and the Invention of Chord SymbolsChapter 7 4. The Tune-Dex Fake Books: Enter the FBIChapter 8 5. Evidence Given in 4/4 TimeChapter 9 6. Legit Fake BooksChapter 10 7. The Making of The Real BookPart 11 General IndexPart 12 Title IndexPart 13 Song and Show IndexPart 14 About the Author

This volume follows the history of fake books from the Tune-Dex subscription service used in the 1940s to the Real Book series now popularly used (the latter described in part by musicians Steve Swallow and Pat Metheny). Kernfeld details how chord symbols and the first fake books originated, the first copyright infringement case against bootlegging, and when authorized fake books began to appear. In addition to the general index, title and song/show indexes are also provided. Kernfeld is a saxophonist, editor of The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz and author of What to Listen for in Jazz.