Ms Peggy Judy in all her glitzy folie extravaganza on the cover of volume IV of the WORLD WHO'S WHO IN JAZZ, CABARET, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT. Insiders told the International Herald Daily News, Ms Judy was chosen because she is the perfect blend of the vanished era of Vaudeville and the contemporary American showbiz.

LONDON- So just when I thought this was it, the series is finished, a so-called friend and colleague shoved the newly published Volume IV of the World Who’s Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment on my desk. “Read,” he said. “Review. It’s your kind of stuff, Nigel.” Just as I was going to grumble that I was too busy (one has to maintain one’s reputation) my eyes landed on the cover, and there was Miss Peggy Judy, the great singer, published author, and possessor of the best legs in the industry. There she sits, silhouetted against the rich black cover in her Toulouse Lautrec dress. So naturally I picked up the book for a closer look. After studying the artistic design for a while, I flipped the book over. On the back cover, Maximillien de Lafayette, the international authority  on entertainment and performing arts, the linguist, artist, and all around Renaissance man, smiles in a rather smug way, surrounded by the pictures of seven divas. You can learn something from this chap, I always say; how does he get them to flock around him? So okay, I was hooked, and I opened the book.

Seven international divas appeared on the cover of Showbiz, Pioneers, Best Singers, Musicians and Entertainers from 1606 to the Present. First row from L to R: Antoinette Montague, Maria Gentile, Zola, Irene Soderberg. Second row, from L to R: Stephanie Jordan, Nichaud Fitzgibbon, Katie Bull. Seven Divas or seven graces, slogan or semantics...it does not matter, it leads to one destination "They are the 4 winds and 4 aromas of world entertainment": said Carol Lexter, editor at the World Who's Who.

The wealth of information in this learned tome is outstanding. Not only all the necessary lists of people, places, venues, best of the best, legends, new talents, new albums, etc., but an extended, scholarly history of the industry as well. I had to spend some time reading about the early days of the cabaret, African-American music, gospel music, and more, skipping back and forth to enjoy stories about individuals whom I have always found interesting, from various countries and genres. There are hundreds of pictures there, most beautiful and enjoyable, accompanying well-researched, meticulous text. As always, de Lafayette includes new talents among the great legends, which in my humble view keep things fresh and exciting.

            I highly recommend this book, both on its own and as a part of the intriguing, unique series of the Who’s Who. There is nothing like it out there, trust me, I know books. All I ask is to have some time between volumes – they come fast and furious, and honestly I want to be able to devote some time to reading them!