James Ransome’s glorious art celebrates jazz icon Sonny Rollins and how he found an inspired spot to practice his saxophone when his neighbors complained.Sonny Rollins loved his saxophone. As a teenag
The poignant story of Blind Willie Johnson--the legendary Texas musician whose song "Dark Was the Night" was included on the Voyager I space probe's Golden RecordWillie Johnson was born in 1897, and f
Growing up, John was a seeker. He wondered about spirit, and the meaning of life. And whether music could be a key to unlocking those mysteries. Like his grandfather’s preaching and his parents’ songs
Discover the childhood story of Carlos Santana, illustrated by the internationally celebrated artist who created the iconic Carlos Santana Shaman CD cover.Carlos Santana grew up surrounded by music. H
"Hey hey, Woody Guthrie, I wrote you a song..." When Bob finished, Woody's face lit up like the sun. Bob Dylan is a musical icon, an American legend, and, quite simply, a poet. But before he became Bo
An award-winning author and a Caldecott Medalist improvise a playful tribute to the creators of bebop—Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.When sax player Charlie "Bird" Parker and trumpeter John "Dizzy
Jimi Hendrix was many things: a superstar, a rebel, a hero, an innovator. But first, he was a boy named Jimmy who loved to draw and paint and listen to records. A boy who played air guitar with a bro
An award-winning author and a Caldecott Medalist take a creative look at the early life of comedic genius Charlie Chaplin.Once there was a little slip of a boy who roamed the streets of London, hungry
The audience was completely silent the first time Billie Holiday performed a song called "Strange Fruit." In the 1930s, Billie was known as a performer of jazz and blues music, but this song wasn't ei