About Us

James A. Cosby is an attorney and author in Philadelphia. His first book, Devil’s Music, Holy Rollers, and Hillbillies: How America Gave Birth to Rock and Roll (McFarland, 2016) was a Minnesota Public Radio Rock Book Club Selection and was called “illuminating and intriguing” by Kirkus Reviews. The book is featured at the legendary Sun Studio and at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jim has also been interviewed regarding the book by the Library of Congress. His follow-up book, Rock Music, Authority and Western Culture, 1964-1980 (McFarland, 2024), was a Kirkus Reviews Editor’s Pick and was lauded by the Midwest Book Review (“seminal and ground-breaking”) and Library Journal (“fantastic resource”). Jim’s work has also appeared in Cineasté magazine (summer, 2025) and other outlets. He has published legal scholarship on children’s rights and the Constitution, and has been a regular contributor on music- and film-related topics at PopMatters.