From Madonna to Beyonce, Amy Winehouse to Dolly Parton, women have played an essential and undeniable role in the evolution of popular music. Writer and professor of journalism Evelyn McDonnell joins us for a conversation that champions the 104 greatest female artists who have played critical roles in defining modern music. She shares glimpses from Women Who Rock, a collection of essays that offers an up-to-date history of the evolution, influence, and importance of female musicians, both modern and timeless. As part of the exploration of these essays, McDonnell welcomes legendary music critic Gillian Gaar to read a selection from her work contained in this collection.

McDonnell brings to bear her experience as the editor of this powerful collection, highlighting the stellar accomplishments of these 104 female artists and granting us insight into the context of their genres and contributions to the musical world at large. Join McDonnell for a recollection and celebration of the 104 most influential female musicians, and the key moments where they shaped the trajectory of modern music.

Evelyn McDonnell is associate professor of journalism at Loyola Marymount University. She has been writing about popular culture and society for more than 20 years. She is the author of four books: Queens of Noise: The Real Story of the Runaways, Mamarama: A Memoir of Sex, Kids and Rock ‘n’ Roll, Army of She: Icelandic, Iconoclastic, Irrepressible Bjork and Rent by Jonathan Larson. She coedited the anthologies Rock She Wrote: Women Write About Rock, Pop and Rap and Stars Don’t Stand Still in the Sky: Music and Myth. She lives in Los Angeles.

Presented by Town Hall Seattle and MoPOP.