George Burrows is Reader in Performing Arts at the University of Portsmouth, where he has lectured on music and theatre for more than 15 years. His published research focuses on interwar musical theatre and jazz. He founded the Song, Stage and Screen international conference in 2006 and the academic journal, Studies in Musical Theatre (Intellect) in 2007. He is also active as a performing musician and directs the University of Portsmouth Choir. Writing this book inspired him to learn the Sousaphone.

• Introduction 1 Sweet and Hot: Stylistic-racial stereotypes and masks, 1929-19312 Walkin' and Swingin': Signifyin(g) race in elegant swing for Decca, 1936-1941.3 Until the real thing comes along: Pop songs and black authenticity, 1936-1949.4 A Mellow Bit of Rhythm: Inauthentic recollections of black-jazz authenticity, 1957 ReferencesIndex

In this vital and accessible exploration of the recordings of Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy, George Burrows challenges readers to examine how the construct of "racial authenticity" negatively underpins jazz culture...Burrows' work accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do: it "amplifies resistance to seemingly innocent but racist conceptions and structures that underpin the music...in an era when to speak loudly about such things is at least as urgent as ever it was" Amen to that.