“Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.” —Stevie Wonder, “Sir Duke”

In 2003, young professor Ferentz LaFargue traveled to Paris, where his fiancée, Tricia, declared she wasn’t happy with their relationship, ending what he thought was a wonderful engagement. After days of “craying”—“that sorrow-laden blend of crying and praying delivered in perfect pitch by those in mourning”—Ferentz happened upon Stevie Wonder’s 1976 classic double album Songs in the Key of Life. Listening to it anew was a healing, spiritual trip down memory lane, helping him to come to terms with his breakup and reflect on how songs in general have been linked to his life.

In this book, Ferentz invites us to get cozy and listen as he hits PLAY on meaningful tracks from Wonder and others, including Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, LL Cool J, Beenie Man, Sheryl Crow, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, and Black Sabbath. He recalls:

How the fusion of rock and rap in the breakthrough Run-D.M.C./Aerosmith video “Walk This Way” helped to change an adolescent Ferentz from outcast to authority figure

How Michael Jackson’s Thriller brought back a traumatic childhood experience

How Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks” speaks to the tension between his Christian beliefs and his need to rip it up in clubs as a hip-hop head

In the tradition of Nick Hornby’s Songbook¸ these words paint a portrait of a life framed by sounds, allowing all of us to think about what songs have been key in our own lives.

"Recalling Nick Hornby's Songbook and Rob Sheffield's more recent Love is a Mix Tape, Lafargue's memoir chronicles life events major and minor through the prism of the music he loves and hates. Lefargue found the genesis for his book while struggling through the aftermath of a failed engagement, during which he discovered Stevie Wonder's breakthrough double album, Songs in the Key of Life. Beginning with the miraculous turnaround that album inspired, the professor and Brooklyn resident recounts, among other amusing anecdotes, his mother's mad crush on mid-1980s sensation Billy Ocean; his own impressions and imitations of Michael Jackson, 'who danced like Fred Astaire, sang like Jackie Wilson, had the suave good looks of a young Sam Cooke, and dressed like Liberace'; and the link between Stanley Kubrick's film Full Metal Jacket and 2 Live Crew's 'obscene, misogynist, and offensive' album As Nasty as They Wanna Be. The book's biggest weakness may be Lefargue's lack of credentials; without rock critic Sheffield's reputation or Hornby's fan base, readers may wonder why they should care about one man's taste in music. Lafargue may not provide that reason, but he does have a sincere, honest voice and a story that any pop music fan is sure to nod along with." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

“Lafargue understands how songs shape our lives, even as our lives shape our songs. A sweet meditation on the soul of music.” —David Ritz

After author Ferentz LaFargue’s emotional breakup with his fiancée, he faced a crossroads, not sure whether to rid himself of their love’s bittersweet reminders or heed nostalgia’s pull. As he pored over their relationship’s remnants, he happened upon Stevie Wonder’s 1976 classic Songs in the Key of Life. Listening to it anew was like a trip down memory lane, with particular songs indelibly linked to formative episodes in his life.

In his book, LaFargue invites us to plop down on the floor with him and a pile of records and listen as he drops the needle on meaningful tracks from Wonder and many other artists, including Michael Jackson, Carly Simon, Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, Black Sabbath, and Fantasia Barrino. He vividly recalls:

·How the fusion of rock and rap in the breakthrough Run D.M.C. and Aerosmith video “Walk This Way” helped to change an adolescent LaFargue from outcast to authority figure.

• How the controversy around the R. Kelly and Michael Jackson sex abuse charges along with the Kelly song "I Wish" brings back a traumatic childhood experience.

·Blissful road trips with his fiancée and how she would overflow with joy when “Isn’t She Lovely” came on.

Published to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of the album Songs in the Key of Life, this memoir is a portrait of a life framed by sound. It describes how music formed a man, and allows all of us to think about what songs have been key in our lives.

"Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand . . ." --Stevie Wonder, "Sir Duke <BR>"Music has mattered deeply to Ferentz Lafargue, a young professor, for most of his life, particularly the songs and sounds of the legendary Stevie Wonder, who has inspired Lafargue more than any other musical artist. In this book, named after the classic 1976 Wonder album "Songs in the Key of Life," Lafargue invites us to plop down on the floor with him and a pile of records and listen as he drops the needle on meaningful tracks from Wonder and an eclectic array of other artists. They include Mary J. Blige, Eric B. & Rakim, Kanye West, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Phil Collins, KRS-One, New Edition, Kirk Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Madonna, De La Soul, Teena Marie, Teddy Pendergrass, Aretha Franklin, and Black Sabbath. He vividly recalls: <BR>How the fusion of rock and rap in the breakthrough Run D.M.C. and Aerosmith song "Walk This Way" helped to change an adolescent Lafargue from outcast to authority figure.<BR>How the controversy around the R. Kelly and Michael Jackson sex abuse charges, along with the Kelly song "I Wish," brings back a traumatic childhood experience.<BR>Road trips with his eventual fiancee where their driving soundtrack became a soundtrack to their relationship <BR>Published to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of "Songs in the Key of Life," this memoir is a portrait of a life framed by sound. It describes how music formed a man and allows all of us to think about what songs have been key in our own" "lives.

Ferentz LaFargue earned a Ph.D. at Yale University and teaches literature at Eugene Lang College, New School University. He lives in Brooklyn.