The Language of the Blues by Debra Desalvo
"The Language of the Blues" explores the origins and meanings of the language of the blues - ranging in alphabetical order from words that have infiltrated the American mind, like "mojo" and "boogie," to more obscure terms like "woofin" (verbal boasting) and "mootie" (marijuana), which have resurfaced in today's hip hop hits. Accompanying blues terms and their definitions are lively and informative profiles of many of the blues' most legendary artists, including Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Sonny Boy Williamson, Willie Dixon, and Bonnie Raitt. Occasionally raunchy and often surprising, this book is sure to be both informative and wildly entertaining to jazz and blues aficionados worldwide.