Book Description
In his classic study The Masks of God, Joseph Campbell conducted us on a fascinating global tour, showing how the seeds of myth grew in a similar fashion throughout the history of civilization. Before Campbell there was Sir James George Frazier who, in The Golden Bough--his pioneering study of magic, relgion, and folk custom--demonstrated how world mythologies exhibit "the effect of similar causes acting alike on the similar constitution of the human mind in different countries and under different skies." Now, in Beyond the Blue Horizon, eminent astronomer E.C. Krupp guides us expertly through a bewildering maze of cultures and civilizations--from the stone age to the present day--making clear that while the skies of these diverse peoples may vary, they speak nearly the same language. Beyond the Blue Horizon is a treasure trove of myths, legends, and stories in which people have, through the ages, attempted to understand the cosmos and its meaning for humankind. Collecting an astonishing amount of lore between the covers of a single book, Krupp explains why our ancestors were so intrigued by the heavens, and what their celestial stories meant. Readers will learn, for example, that many cultures saw a rabbit--rather than a man--in the moon, and that this moon-rabbit, as a symbol of sacrifice and rebirth, is a cousin of our own Easter Bunny; that to our ancestors, an eclipse challenged the stability and integrity of heaven and thus threatened order and life on earth; that the magical sleighride and chimney antics of Santa Claus echo the ancient journeys of shamans and witch doctors; that our "dog days" of July and August originated in Roman times with the summer appearance of Sirius, the Dog Star; and that the contemporary stories of UFOs reveal the mystery and meaning the sky still holds for us as we approach the twenty-first century. Of course, there is much, much more that will delight and intrigue; even readers familiar with world mythology will find plenty that is new and strange in Krupp's rich panorama. An epic, authoritative, and cross-cultural exploration with over 150 illustrations, Beyond the Blue Horizon tells how all civilizations searched the sky to understand to universe--and our own place in it.
Customer Reviews:
Extensive.......2002-07-07
Krupp has written a book that is comparable to Frazer's Golden Bough and Campbell's Hero With a Thousand Faces. He traces the evolution of sky myths from cultures around the globe. Krupp does an excellent job of capturing the meaning and beauty of these stories, and pieces them together in a well-crafted narrative.
Really Facinating Book..........2000-03-28
Beyond the Blue Horizon: Myths and Legends of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Planets, is a very interesting and amazing read-- it confronts many possibilities of the place outside our blue sky, and gives the reader something to think about for long after the last page is read. Not only is this book worth reading for the pure fun of it, but it teachs you things that may come in handy at dinner table conversation. Facinating is the word that comes to mind... the myths about the stars and planets can sometimes be good bedtime stories, and over all, this book keeps you wanting more.
Average customer rating:
- Historical Fiction for the Younger Set
- Beautiful and Edifying
- Beautifully told and illustrated
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How the Amazon Queen Fought the Prince of Egypt (Bccb Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award (Awards))
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ASIN: 0689844344 |
Book Description
CAN WOMAN EVER CONQUER MAN?
Queen Serpot rules the Land of Women, where the Amazon women live free, without men, and hunt and fight their own battles. But one day their peace is broken. An army of Egyptian soldiers is approaching their land, led by their prince, Pedikhons.
Pedikhons has heard stories of these warrior women. Now he has come to see them with his own eyes -- and to challenge them to combat. But the brave Serpot and her women are full of surprises. Can woman truly equal man in strength and courage?
This story of love and war is based on an actual Egyptian scroll from the Greco-Roman period. Hieroglyphic translations of key phrases, intricate paintings in the Egyptian and Assyrian styles, and extensive notes about both cultures enrich this fascinating, untold legend.
Customer Reviews:
Historical Fiction for the Younger Set.......2005-10-13
Strong women, battling men, first at war, and eventually in love. Loosely based on real-life ancient history, this book is a feast for young imaginations with glimpses of past Assyria (the modern day Middle East), Egypt, and hieroglyphics. The book is educational as well as entertaining.
A fairly short book that won't overwhelm younger children (artistically stimulating for the pre-reader), but also keeps us old folks visually engaged.
Beautiful and Edifying.......2005-05-08
Applause to Tamara Bower for bringing back to life a story heard by ancient ears. Her attention to artistic detail makes this book a visual feast. With all of the information included in this book it is interesting for children as well as for adults.
Thank you Tamara Bower for this treasure!
Beautifully told and illustrated.......2005-05-05
This story is an ancient tale with a modern sensibility. Two great leaders, a prince and a queen, who do not know much about each other at first, rise to battle each other, then learn to respect each other and join forces. It's a great story of adventure, empowerment and acceptance, beautifully told with Tamara Bower's rich, colorful, hieroglyphic style paintings. This is a great book for anyone who likes Egyptian art and classic storytelling.
Book Description
He goes to pickin' notes ungodly
From a land unknown, singin'
like a blackbird possessed . . .
Little Robert grew up fast.
He came from the muddy back roads of Mississippi, lived largely in mystery, and died young, leaving behind little more than two grainy photographs and a batch of tinny recordings. But with a guitar in his hands, he played and sang the blues like none before. His name? Robert Johnson: a man some have called the root of rock 'n' roll, a musician trailed by rumors that his guitar was tuned by the devil.
The poems of J. Patrick Lewis, haunting illustrations of Gary Kelley, and musical lyrics of Robert Johnson himself harmonize in
Black Cat Bone to tell the tale of this most legendary bluesman. As the poems explore the humble origins, rambling travels, and tragic death of Johnson, chalk illustrations offer a window onto the legends that have taken root to explain his extraordinary skills. An endnotes section at the back of the book lends factual footing to the story of this 1930s guitarist and singer, offering a fuller picture of his rise, fall, and the myth-steeped legacy that surrounds him still.
Customer Reviews:
Music and the man who played it.......2007-05-05
When I first received Black Cat Bone: The Life of Blues Legend Robert Johnson, I wondered why someone would write a picture book about a man who reportedly sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his now-legendary guitar licks, who also drank heavily, stole men's wives, and ultimately died after being poisoned by a jealous husband.
Upon further inspection, I discovered that the book is geared toward an audience of grade six and up and that J. Patrick Lewis did a fine job of ever-so-slightly glossing over the rather grittier parts of Robert Johnson's life, creating a poetic tribute to the stories he left behind.
I did not hear Robert Johnson until I was eighteen, although I'm sure many of my more musically inclined friends--the ones who sought out old vinyl while I was still copying Paula Abdul's dance moves--learned about him long before that. But imagine being introduced to Johnson as early as age twelve. It's the kind of moment that can change the course of your future, especially if you happen to already have access to an acoustic guitar.
Lewis tells the story of Johnson's life through verse, with further biographical information in the forward and endnotes. His poems, including multiple rhyme schemes and free verse appropriate to their subjects, will leave readers smiling with their bluesy rhythms and soulful lines. Likewise, Gary Kelley's illustrations are stunning. Although they could easily stand on their own, they are the perfect complement to Lewis's writing and Johnson's history.
Still, I wonder what pre-teen would feel comfortable whipping out a picture book in homeroom--perhaps one who can fully appreciate the legend that was Robert Johnson and knows that it doesn't matter a lick what people think. All that matters is that you have stood at the crossroad and found which way is yours.
Armchair Interviews says: Wonderful words about the man and his music.
Customer Reviews:
"'Bird' by others".......2007-01-13
This is the only book that I have read about Parker. So I can't compare it to other works. BUT it is a very enjoyable read. As the cover states there are extensive interviews with people who knew him best, including various ex-wives. Various incidents that are in the movie are described here, so I assume Eastwood, or whoever wrote the script, probably consulted this book. But, what is interesting is that the Book states that Chan and 'Bird' were never legally married. Don't think that fact was in the Movie.
Outstanding!.......2004-12-11
This book is less acclaimed than Ross Russell's book, but is far better than the latter. Reisner knew Bird well and he interviewed most of his associates. It's Bird in the words of those who knew him. A great piece of work!
Bird; The Ledgend Of Charlie Parker is a must read........1998-10-07
This book shows the life of Parker through the eyes of many of his collegues, friends, and family. Robert Riesner should be commmended for his work on this material because it's informitive and gives views of Parker through people that were in his life. This book is a must read for all "true" Bird fans.
this book was great.......1997-07-30
this book was about an epic struggle of a jazz musician in a New York city life.Im 16 and i play a lot of jazz and parker was a geat influence on me and my playin i worship him as a mucican and a jazz ico
Book Description
Elwood's Blues is an entertaining and informative collection of conversations with the legends and rising stars of blues and rock music, drawn from the popular syndicated radio series, The House of Blues Radio Hour. Host Dan Aykroyd, in character as Elwood Blues of the legendary Blues Brothers, has interviewed over 900 blues and rock greats since 1993. This book compiles the best of those, including discussions with living legends B.B. King and Buddy Guy, past masters John Lee Hooker and Stevie Ray Vaughan, rising stars Keb' Mo' and Susan Tedeschi, and blues-rooted rock stars such as Robert Plant and Bill Wyman.
Customer Reviews:
A Blues Book For Everyone.......2005-04-02
I have seen at least a dozen of the artists interviewed in this book live and I have heard the music of almost all of them. I thought hearing them interact with Dan Aykroyd would be fun and really lighthearted. These interviews are so much more interesting, historical and enlightening than I expected. Anyone that would like to hear about some great musicians experiences, anyone that really wants some help getting into Blues music, anyone that wants some real clear and simple Blues history, anyone that wants to motivate themselves or a young person over the age of 12 to continue or clarify their musical interests would love this book.
This book is comfortable reading for anyone. You can read the interviews one at a time or in any order and it won't effect the experience. Aykroyd's knowledge of the Blues is much more significant than I would have expected. I can't remember one question in the whole book that was just for a joke or soley comical reaction. Every musician seemed very comfortable talking to him. Every musician seemed to enjoy this opportunity to tell some real and simple truths about the Blues or their lives. Blues history books can become tedious. In this book once you hear four or five different artists that are not associated with each other describe the same Blues history or musical perspectives you know this book is really something special. Also the Blues discography was a great bonus.
After reading the first four interviews I bought a copy as a gift for a friend. By the time I finished this book I had a list of six people that I want to buy copies for, each for a different reason. This book is now my Blues mini-encyclopedia.
My sister is a Blues Brothers Junky.......2005-01-26
I got this book for her christmas she like crazy and I tought she was going jump up and hug me I am not a Blues Brothers fan that much but if this book didn't have any thing but blues music I would did dig it more I love blues music that is it plain and simple so I give this book 5 stars because my sister loves this book you should buy it she says it is great
Fine Tribute To Deserving Artists.......2004-11-24
I really love books like this. The formula was done by E-Street drummer Max Weinberg in The Big Beat, where he interviewed top percussionists. For years it's continued to call to me for yet another reading. I suspect this book will produce similar reactions. There's way too much to absorb all-at-once, even though the book reads so quickly you have to pace yourself down.
The lineup is stellar. Understandably, my particular favorite interviews are those on my favorite artists. R.L. Burnside is worth the price of the book alone. But the artist I most was pleasantly surprised by is Taj Mahal. He's far more articulate than I'd've imagined, causing me to retreat to his CD catalogue and re-explore his depth and scope of musical influences.
This is blues made accessible. But don't misinterpret that statement as "blues lite." This book's subjects are substantive and worthy. It's a mighty fine tribute to these deserving artists.
Perhaps the nicest aspect is how Elwood Blues stays out of the way of his subjects and lets them occupy center-stage, where they justly belong. In the hands of lesser authors, the book coulda easily become a "look at me interviewing a living legend" mess.
Average customer rating:
- One of the best young adult fantasy novels ever
- The Blue Sword
- The book that made me fall in love with reading
- 25 years later this is still my favorite book
- A Well-Crafted Fantasy About a Lonely Orphan Girl, A Proud Desert King, and a Very Nasty Demon Menace...
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The Blue Sword
Robin Mckinley
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ASIN: 0688009387
Release Date: 1982-10-01 |
Book Description
When Harry Crewe's father dies, she leaves her Homeland to travel east, to Istan, the last outpost of the Homelander empire, where her elder brother is stationed.
Harry is drawn to the bleak landscape of the northeast frontier, so unlike the green hills of her Homeland. The desert she stares across was once a part of the great kingdom of Damar, before the Homelanders came from over the seas. Harry wishes she might cross the sands and climb the dark mountains where no Homelander has ever set foot, where the last of the old Damarians, the Free Hillfolk, still live. She hears stories that the Free Hillfolk possess strange powers -- that they work magic -- that it is because of this that they remain free of the Homelander sway.
When the king of the Free Hillfolk comes to Istan to ask that the Homelanders and the Hillfolk set their enmity aside to fight a common foe, the Homelanders are reluctant to trust his word, and even more reluctant to believe his tales of the Northerners: that they are demonkind, not human.
Harry's destiny lies in the far mountains that she once wished to climb, and she will ride to the battle with the North in the Hill-king's army, bearing the Blue Sword, Gonturan, the chiefest treasure of the Hill-king's house and the subject of many legends of magic and mystery.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best young adult fantasy novels ever.......2007-09-20
The only quibble I have with this book is that her real name, which Harry Crewe despises, is one of my favorites. (Perhaps the problem is that she doesn't know how to pronounce it. I listened to this book on tape, after having read it many times, and the reader mispronounced the name in a very ugly fashion.)In any case, The Blue Sword and its sister book, The Hero and the Crown, are both wonderful and original books, with heroines who combine strengths they didn't know they had with very human flaws. The setting of The Blue Sword would remind one of Naomi Novik's more recent--and equally excellent--Temeraire series: the 19th century British Empire with a remarkably well-done twist. I only wish that Robin McKinley would favor us with another Damar novel.
The Blue Sword.......2007-09-17
I first read the Hero and the Crown over 10 years ago. I found The Blue Sword in the Library and read it. I enjoyed both books so much that I insisted my sister read them. After a few years she still had not touched either book (she is doesn't really read much). These books are so good that I decided to read the books to her. It took us a long time to read the hero and the crown because of how busy we are and have not always been living in the same state. She has thoroughly enjoyed The Hero and The Crown and we are both looking forward to reading The Blue Sword together.
There is a lot of good imagery in these books. At times it may seem that the action has slowed down because of all the description. I find all the descriptions wonderfully vivid and very easy to picture. I know of a few people who have trouble getting into the books at first because of it. Keep reading and it will pickup.
The stories take place in very different times and climates. I found this to add to my interest and intrigue in both stories. Most of the time I have found that fantasy books by the same author all tend to be in the same time period and atmosphere. I found the change in setting to be fascinating and add to the sense that a lot of time had past between the two books.
The book that made me fall in love with reading.......2007-08-11
I picked this up at a bookstore as a horse crazy kid back when it first came out because of the cover art. I read it straight through and then proceeded to read it over and over and over again until it turned to dust. It was the first book I'd ever fallen in love with, and as my first, has a special place in my heart and in my library (third copy does anyway). I highly recommend it. I can't say enough good things about. Read it.
25 years later this is still my favorite book.......2007-06-24
I first read this book about 25 years ago. My friend and I fought over who got to buy the one copy in the bookstore and who had to order another one. I still re-read this book at least once a year. I'm now 37 years old and this book remains one of my all-time favorites. I still have my original copy, beat-up and worn as it is.
A Well-Crafted Fantasy About a Lonely Orphan Girl, A Proud Desert King, and a Very Nasty Demon Menace..........2007-05-03
...This one is a slow starter-- but once it revs up, you'll be turning the pages all night. After her parents' death, young Harry (her true name is only revealed late in the book) is packed off to live near her brother's military outpost on the edge of a great sandy desert. The book seems to be set in a time of British Colonialism. But this Colony has uncanny locals. When a desert king comes to warn the outpost of a terrible threat, and to obtain aid against it, his concerns are, apparently, dismissed as fanciful. But Harry is oddly transfixed at the sight of the king, and he, too, finds himself thinking of her over and over again. And then the Magic takes over, and Harry is whisked away, to an alien society she never knew existed.
And -- oddly-- she finds that she fits in.
This fantasy does not have a lot of "flash and dazzle" in the first chapters. Instead, the author transitions you away from the "normal" world bit by bit -- Harry leaves her old home, and takes a train to the desert, and adjusts to life at the outpost town before meeting the desert king. I wouldn't think that it would appeal to the young and impatient reader, due to the careful development of the setting, and due to the fact that the author takes the time to offer lot of savory description (you can taste the desert sand and smell the horse sweat). But it rewards the reader who will go along with Harry into the desert world. The writing is graceful and the characters very well drawn and compelling. I come back to this one over and over; I find that it refreshes my spirit a bit every time.
Amazon.com
Blues fans have long held up Robert Johnson's small but potent body of work as a slender pillar on which much modern blues and rock rest, and the songs themselves remain astonishing paradigms of the blues' most primordial style, the country blues of the Mississippi Delta. Yet, for decades after his murder in 1938, details of Johnson's life and clues into the genesis of his music consisted of little more than the evocative themes and settings of the songs themselves.
This brief but absorbing meditation on Johnson's life and art, originally published in 1989 in anticipation of the first release of his complete recordings, benefits from the detective work of earlier blues scholars, most notably Mack McCormick, who began piercing the veil surrounding Johnson's life in the '60s. By the '80s, reminiscences from the bluesman's contemporaries, more solid evidence of his shadowy lineage, and even the belated discovery of photographs added more dimension to McCormick's "phantom" Johnson. Yet, possibly by his own design, Robert Johnson remained more outline than flesh, still explained more lucidly in the fevered nightmares and earthy imagery of his songs than by the scattered details of his life.
Guralnick succeeds in conveying the power of Johnson's music and delineating both its origins and, ultimately, singular genius. His debts to delta blues avatars Charley Patton and Tommy Johnson are solidified, yet, more crucially, Guralnick roots Johnson's artistic growth in the specific context of this rural corner of Mississippi, at this particular moment between the world wars. He also frankly addresses the potency of Johnson's myth and an early death that only glorifies the brief, bright arc of his work. No less crucial is Guralnick's ability to convey the dark beauty of the music itself, giving Searching for Robert Johnson a broader sweep as an essential blues primer. --Sam Sutherland
Book Description
Robert Johnson, while probably the most influential of all blues guitarists, is also one of the most obscure. Recognized as an influence on musicians like Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones, Johnson was poisoned by a jealous husband in 1938--at the age of twenty-seven. This untimely death, his supposed bargain with the devil that enabled him to play guitar, and the ferocity and tormented originality of his work have given rise to a legend that has inspired a Hollywood movie and numerous stories. Peter Guralnick's extended essay about the life of the man and the myth, and of the place and time that produced both, illuminates much of the obscurity around Johnson without forfeiting any of the mystery.
Customer Reviews:
worth reading.......2007-01-10
Excellent book. Interesting prospective not only of Robert Johnson, but of his contemporaries.
Vivid description of the blues great.......1999-08-14
The 96 pages of this book are pack full of information about legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. Virtually everything that is known about Mr. Johnson is vividly detailed in this work. Makes for excellent reading.
searching for robert.......1997-01-30
It is to bad that someone so capable of telling a good tale could take a dive with such vivid subject matter at his disposal. It is extremely over priced for such a dismal read. Anyone who has purchased the Box set has read pretty much the same info given in this minute pamplet of wash. We need a vision of this man not a paint by numbers acount of times,places and song verses. Then again If you do not know the tale of johnson then this is the book for you. let me also highly recomend Robert palmers book Deep Blues. Also the finest attempt to give an acurate portrayal of such a god is the book LOVE in VAIN by Alan Greenberg...
Average customer rating:
- Could have used a better editor
- Well Researched
- excellent reconstruction of a rambling life
- Definitive and Informative
- A must have for music researchers
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The Life and Legend of Leadbelly
Charles K. Wolfe , and
Kip Lornell
Manufacturer: Da Capo
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ASIN: 030680896X |
Book Description
Huddie Ledbetter (1889-1949), known to millions of fans simply as Leadbelly, was arguably the most famous black singer in American history. His close musical associations included such towering figures as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and John and Alan Lomax. He helped lay the foundations for blues, modern folk music, and rock 'n' roll. This definitive biography draws on a wealth of new archival material, interviews, and previously unknown recordings to detail Leadbelly's proud, tumultuous, and often violent life.
Customer Reviews:
Could have used a better editor.......2007-07-30
There's some great information here, and the authors present the fruits of some painstaking research into Leadbelly's early life. We find out the true story behind his prison stints (and escapes) and releases. We also learn about a possible ultimate source for Goodnight Irene. The stories of Leadbelly's experiences with the Lomaxes are much more detailed and richly told because Lomax wrote many letters and kept an extensive record of his travels with Leadbelly.
But a more attentive editor could have helped a great deal. For example, two dates for Juneteenth are given. Bruno Hauptmann's name is misspelled. Some clunky phrases are repeated within a paragraph of one another. The chronology of Leadbelly's trips around the Northeast is muddled and hard to follow at times. The information is all there, and it is great to read all about it, but it could have been much more clearly presented.
Well Researched.......2005-06-20
After reading this book you will have a real sence of leadbelly, the man and his music.
A true original and free soul
excellent reconstruction of a rambling life.......2003-04-22
very well put together biography based on a variety of sources. the authors present the myths and the 'facts' in a very cogent and objective manner allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions. not only is leadbelly explored in detail, but this book also contains great descriptions of the places, times and character of leadbelly's world.
this book is also a nice read for those interested in john or alan lomax.
i only wish there had been more photos - but those that survive are accessible on-line.
Definitive and Informative.......2001-08-16
This is a fascinating biography of one of this century's truly seminal artists, from his days in the Shreveport red light district to his jail terms in Huntsville and Angola, LA., on through his "discovery" by John and Alan Lomax. The book is exhaustively researched and will delight both blues fans and history buffs.
A must have for music researchers.......2000-08-06
This well-written, well-researched book is THE source for Huddie Ledbetter/Leadbelly information.
Average customer rating:
- This Book Doesn't Miss!!!
- Overcoming so much
- "This is a really fascinating book, about an incredible woma
- A true R&B Legend
- A brilliant book about a truly amazing life.
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Miss Rhythm: The Autobiography of Ruth Brown, Rhythm and Blues Legend
Ruth Brown , and
Andrew Yule
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
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ASIN: 1556114869 |
Customer Reviews:
This Book Doesn't Miss!!!.......2005-02-10
Miss Rhythm is one of the most delightful autobiographies I've read in some time, mainly because 50's R & B diva Ruth Brown never loses her wonderful sense of humor, through good times and bad. Only a truly funny lady could witness a gruesome murder (and decapitation, p. 15) and not lose her lunch in the process. She knew the heights of show business success (several #1 R and B hits), as well as the depths (she had to work as a domestic and teacher's aide AFTER her initial success just to keep food on the table for herself and her kids) and still she comes up smiling in the end. Her battles with Atlantic record company guru Ahmet Ertegun and his minions are noted in great detail: it seems that recording artists way back when received virtually no royalties on sales of their music, and since they were charged for session expenses, often ended up in permanent debt to their labels! This is why the most stirring portion of the book is the last 100 pages or so, which deals with her miraculous comeback on Broadway and in the movies (Hairspray), as well as her founding of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, a wonderful organization dedicated to recovering back royalties for the many rhythm and blues artist from the 50's and 60's who were paid a mere pittance for their service and who often didn't even have health insurance!! Through it all, the bad marriages and fabulous children, through earthquakes, car accidents, knee problems and poverty, through a final, moving reconciliation with her estranged family, the character of Miss Ruth Brown shines like an inspirational beacon. Get this marvelous book today, and let Miss Rhythm's wonderful strength and spirit serve as a shining example for many years to come.
Overcoming so much.......2001-03-18
Ruth Brown is Amazing not only as a Artist but also as a Human Being in a time that not long ago that Hated her for HerColor&She fought for a better Tommorow for Future Generations of Artists coming.She overcame so much &Gave Back so Much not only as a Artist but also as a Person.Important Artists like Her should always be Remembered for Paving the way for so many.She is a Great Vocalist that could ring Circles around Many out today.Her Book&Etta James's are Must.Sister's that overcame so much but Maintain there Inner&Outer Soul.
"This is a really fascinating book, about an incredible woma.......2001-02-27
This is a terrific book that tells the story of a truly amazing woman and in the process, tells the story of hundreds of rhythym and blues performers and groups and the lives they led, in the early days of this important american music. The reader learns how Ms. Brown overcame unbelievable obstacles, both personal and business, and came out on top-in the process, initiating the creation of a great organization called The Rhythm and Blues Foundation, which is based in Washington DC, and exists for the purpose of helping to preserve the music and which provides cash awards and support for R&B pioneers.
A true R&B Legend.......2001-02-21
Ruth Brown has seen it all--from staying in sleazy segregated hotels on tour in Jim Crow America in the 40s and 50s to the top of the R&B charts in the 50s to later hearing her songs on the radio when she was broke and ignored by the record companies she helped build. This lady was the "diva" of R&B and still performs today to packed audiences. We're lucky to have this historical record of her life, for it is a reflection of what many black performers of her day had to go through before achieving the heights of musical stardom, and what they had to go through even after achieving the heights. A great lady and a great performer!
A brilliant book about a truly amazing life........2001-02-17
Miss Rhythm is one of the most well-written books I've ever read, in a any genre. Besides that, it tells about the life of someone who's had enough life-experience, and up and downs, for five people, and who has overcome incredible adversity in the proccess. Ruth Brown is not only a great artist but is truly an inspiration and an example for people from all backgrounds and all walks of life.
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People of the Short Blue Corn: Tales & Legends of the Hopi Indians
Harold Courtlander
Manufacturer: Henry Holth & Co (J)
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Binding: Hardcover
Ages 4-8
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