Dust-to-Digital has been producing, compiling, and sharing beautiful music since 2003.
Founded by April and Lance Ledbetter, we increase access to hard-to-find, essential recordings and performances via preservation, research, and production. Our work has received numerous awards, and has been recognized and cited by a wide variety of musicians, artists, and scholars.
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EXCAVATED SHELLAC: AN ALTERNATE HISTORY OF THE WORLD’S MUSIC
This Grammy-nominated collection highlights music that is often invisible today — the incredible world of global recordings that are not jazz, blues, country, rock ‘n roll, R&B, or “classical.”
Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History of the World’s Music (1907-1967) features 100 recordings and 100 stories in an extensive, beautifully-illustrated, 186-page book with detailed, contextual mini-histories about both musical origins and the beginnings of the recording industry. The writing addresses the complexities of colonialism, economic agendas, and cultural tourism.
"This sonic smorgasbord from across the globe lives up to the provocative title." - The Guardian
This release offers access to a treasure trove of rare audio gems, historical imagery, and in-depth research.
THE MISSION OF MUSIC MEMORY IS TO PRESERVE AUDIO RECORDINGS FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Our non-profit organization is continuing the work begun by record collectors and researchers in the 1950s and ’60s. We share their passion to keep musical history from being forgotten and discarded.