Synopses & Reviews
Much of American music really started out as African American music. Gospel, spirituals, ragtime, blues, jazz, rock and roll, and hip-hop?all were born in black neighborhoods, created by African Americans who drew on their culture, their aspirations, and their talent. In this spirited collection, you'll meet more than thirty African Americans who have forever changed America's musical landscape. Jazz composers and stride pianists, concert singers and horn players, gospel and rap artists?all overcame obstacles of racism, segregation, and personal tragedy to lead the evolution of American music. Their inspirational stories, from before the Civil War to the present, reveal how:
Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, born a slave, became the first black concert singer. She was known around the world as the "African Nightingale" and the "Black Swan" for her amazing voice.W. C. Handy conquered poverty to become a great cornet player and the composer of the "Memphis Blues", the first popular blues song to be published.
Paul Robeson, a son of a former slave, became an All-American football player, his class valedictorian, a Columbia law graduate, a human rights activist, and a world-famous interpreter of spirituals. Duke Ellington, elegant painter turned pianist, composed thousands of songs, led an award-winning orchestra, and influenced every major jazz, blues, and big band musician today. Aretha Franklin, the "Queen of Soul," survived personal tragedy to win more Grammies than any other woman and became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Full of tales of courage, talent, and determination, this information-packed book illuminates these and other unforgettable musical stars, including Marian Anderson, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Queen Latifah.
Synopsis
Meet the black musicians who created America?s greatest musicfrom the early years to modern times Marian Anderson Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Chuck Berry Thomas "Blind Tom" Greene Bethune Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle James Brown Ray Charles Edmund Dede Thomas Andrew Dorsey Duke Ellington Ella Fitzgerald Aretha Franklin Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield W. C. Handy Mahalia Jackson Michael Jackson Francis Hall Johnson Scott Joplin B. B. King Queen Latifah Millie-Christine McCoy Jessye Norman Gertrude "Ma" Rainey (Pridgett) Doug and Frankie Quimby Paul Robeson Bessie Smith Stevie Wonder
Synopsis
Meet the black musicians who created Americais greatest music--from the early years to modern times Marian Anderson Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Chuck Berry Thomas "Blind Tom" Greene Bethune Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle James Brown Ray Charles Edmund Dede Thomas Andrew Dorsey Duke Ellington Ella Fitzgerald Aretha Franklin Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield W. C. Handy Mahalia Jackson Michael Jackson Francis Hall Johnson Scott Joplin B. B. King Queen Latifah Millie-Christine McCoy Jessye Norman Gertrude "Ma" Rainey (Pridgett) Doug and Frankie Quimby Paul Robeson Bessie Smith Stevie Wonder
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 162-165) and index.
About the Author
ELEANORA E. TATE is a children's book author who has won numerous awards, including a CBC/NCSS Notable Childrenís Trade Book in the field of social studies for Thank You, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.! and a Parent's Choice Gold Seal Award for The Secret of Gumbo Grove.
JIM HASKINS has written more than 100 nonfiction books for young readers. A professor of English at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Haskins has won numerous awards, including the Washington Post Childrenís Book Guild Award.
Table of Contents
THE EARLY YEARS.
Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield.
Edmund Dede.
THE CIVIL WAR YEARS AND RECONSTRUCTION.
Thomas "Blind Tom" Greene Bethune.
Millie-Christine McCoy.
INTO THE NEW CENTURY.
Scott Joplin.
W. C. Handy.
Gertrude "Ma" Rainey.
Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle.
Francis Hall Johnson.
Bessie Smith.
Marian Anderson.
Paul Robeson.
Duke Ellington.
Thomas Andrew Dorsey.
THE MODERN YEARS.
Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong.
Mahalia Jackson.
Ella Fitzgerald.
B. B. King.
Chuck Berry.
Ray Charles.
James Brown.
Doug and Frankie Quimby.
Aretha Franklin.
Jessye Norman.
Stevie Wonder.
Michael Jackson.
Queen Latifah.
Chronology.
Notes.
Bibliography.
Picture Credits.
Index.