This first biography of John Erskine views him in the larger contexts of the mass culture and expanded commercialism that helped propel his fame. It also relates a life narrative that demonstrates perils of academic celebrity along a conceptual path from public intellectual to pop icon.

A Danish musician here presents the most accurate, comprehensive work on a major figure in American jazz: Lester Willis Young (1909-1959), better known as Pres' or Prez, ' from the nickname President' given to him by Billie Holiday. Based on interviews with Young's colleagues and friends, and often presenting his own vulgar scatological words, the book faithfully chronicles the ups and downs of his life and career. Despite his alcoholism, drug addiction, syphillis, epilepsy, and emotional disturbances, Young became the outstanding tenor saxophonist of his time and a dominant, profound influence on the development of bop and progressive (cool') jazz in the 1940s. His solos with the bands of Fletcher Henderson and Count Basie and his collaboration with Holiday are recalled in this outstanding biography. "Publishers Weekly"

This is] the big, warm book about Lester Young that swing lovers have been waiting for, written by a Danish jazz musician. This is a rich authentic life of one of the three greatest tenor players who ever lived, much of it told in vivid quotation from eyewitnesses. Kirkus this is the first thoroughgoing biography of one of America's greatest musicians; its fascination for at least jazz aficionados is magnetic....Along with Porter's magisterial work of musical analysis, Lester Young, this is the book to have on the most influential jazzman between Armstrong and Parker. "Booklist"

A fascinating and invaluable compilation of raw material...a straightforward, accurate narrative.

"The New York TimeS"

By far the most comprehensive work available on the extraordinary Lester Young, "You Just Fight For Your Life" is the jazz enthusiast's dream come true. Meticulously researched and teeming with previously unpublished information, this book accurately recreates the life and character of one of the world's greatest jazz musicians. Historian Frank Buchmann-Moller crafts a full length biography exclusively for Lester Young fans focusing on Young's philosophy of life, his exceptional ability as a bandleader, and his sharp wit. Through the examination of army psychiatric reports, interviews with fellow musicians, and concert reviews, "You Just Fight For Your Life" tells the story of this gifted yet troubled musician.

Beginning with his childhood, the book accurately chronicles the many bands in which Lester Young played prior to joining Count Basie in 1936. Through countless interviews with Young's peers, the book recounts the Basie years and the spicy stories of life on the road. The author includes new information about Young's own first band and follows this with details of his military experience. The final chapters deal with his years as featured soloist. Two appendices list all of Young's jobs from 1919-59 and his own bands chronologically as well as all musicians with whom he played. Now Lester Young followers have a full length biography valuable not only as a reference but for its recreation of a fascinating life.

The focus of this book is based on the author and character's passion for Art especially music and dance through a combination of short stories (Fiction / Gay, Semi autobiographical), letters and poetry with their own take on life and unique interpretations and reflections of the individuals. As is the case in the first story which is a compilation of short stories arranged as chapters. The first chapter is a metaphoric compilation of the written and spoken word presented in the context of an orchestral composition; in this case, three instruments, the human mind, body and soul or spirit!

Elometer returns from the hospital only to discover that she can no longer hear the voices of her friends and family. In fact, she can't hear anything at all.

It's hard enough for a young girl to deal with such a loss, but things get even worse when her stern family takes her out of school and hides her from the outside world. The playmates she manages to keep wildly gesture and even throw things to get her attention, alienating her even further.

Eventually, Elometer stops fantasizing about one day having her hearing return, and she takes steps to thrive in a world that misunderstands her and treats her differently. But her spirit and determination enable her to succeed.

Take a peek into a world that millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing people must live in every day and be inspired by a woman who doesn't let anyone or anything hold her back in A Journey Beyond Silence. That a little deaf girl who was kept isolated and hidden for twenty years was able to marry, have children and succeed as a seamstress in New York City is remarkable.

Robert Clary (born Robert Max Widerman in Paris in 1926) is best known for his portrayal of the spirited Corporal Louis Lebeau on the popular television series Hogan's Heroes (on the air from 1965 to 1971 and widely syndicated around the globe). But it is Clary's experiences as a Jew during the Holocaust that infuse his compelling memoir with an honest recognition of life's often horrific reality, a recognition that counters his glittering five-decade career as an actor, singer, and artist and distinguishes this book from those by other entertainers. Clary describes his childhood in Paris, the German occupation in 1940, and his deportation in 1942 at the age of sixteen to the infamous transit camp Drancy. He recounts his nightmarish, two-and-a-half-year incarceration in Nazi concentration camps like Ottmuth, Blechhammer, Gross-Rosen, and Buchenwald. In April 1945, the Allies liberated Clary and other inmates. But the news that his parents, two sisters, two half-sisters, and two nephews had not survived the Nazis' genocidal campaign against the Jews reduced his joy to grief. After the war, Clary made his way to the United States and, against great odds, achieved fame on Broadway and in Hollywood. From the Holocaust to Hogan's Heroes is Robert Clary's extraordinary account of his remarkable life both as a survivor and as an entertainer. Once read, it will not be forgotten.

For years John Dark was one of Britain's leading film producers. His films include the first 'Casino Royale'. 'There's a Girl in my Soup', 'The Land That Time Forgot' and 'Shirley Valentine'. 'Dark at the Top of the Stairs' is his no-holds-barred, no-feelings-spared autobiography. A master raconteur, John Dark introduces us to his world of hunting for Orson Welles's noses in Hong Kong, of nude photo-shoots with Ursula Andress, of private concerts given by Liza Minnelli - and of despair at the debacle that was 'El Dorado'. But he also introduces us to the private John Dark - John the son, the wartime evacuee, the conscript in Kenya, the drapery salesman; John the lover, husband, father, friend. 'Dark at the Top of the Stairs' will tell you what the words 'Produced by .' really mean - not just in terms of the job's responsibilities, its perks and privileges, but in terms too of the sometimes tremendous cost it exacts. In one of his conversations with Orson Welles, the screen legend refers to film-making as a "fascinating business". 'Dark at the Top of the Stairs' is a fascinating read about that fascinating business.

In celebration of his one-hundredth birthday, a charming, irresistibly readable, and handsomely packaged look back at the life and times of the greatest entertainer in American history, Frank Sinatra. Sinatra's Century is an irresistible collection of one-hundred short reflections on the man, his music, and his larger-than-life story, by a lifetime fan who also happens to be one of the poetry world's most prominent voices. David Lehman uses each of these short pieces to look back on a single facet of the entertainer's story-from his childhood in Hoboken, to his emergence as "The Voice" in the 1940s, to the wild professional (and romantic) fluctuations that followed. Lehman offers new insights and revisits familiar stories-Sinatra's dramatic love affairs with some of the most beautiful stars in Hollywood, including Lauren Bacall, Marilyn Monroe, and Ava Gardner; his fall from grace in the late 1940s and resurrection during the "Capitol Years" of the 1950s; his bonds with the rest of the Rat Pack; and his long tenure as the Chairman of the Board, viewed as the eminence grise of popular music inspiring generations of artists, from Bobby Darin to Bono to Bob Dylan. Brimming with Lehman's own lifelong affection for Sinatra, the book includes lists of unforgettable performances; engaging insight on what made Sinatra the model of American machismo-and the epitome of romance; and clear-eyed assessments of the foibles that impacted his life and work. Warm and enlightening, Sinatra's Century is full-throated appreciation of Sinatra for every fan.

This book offers a series of biographical portraits of the young performers who have reached superstardom in today's popular culture. Who are the superstar icons of the new century-the singers and actors who are captivating today's audiences? Get to know them in this exciting and informative new resource. In a series of biographical essays, Superstars of the 21st Century: Pop Favorites of America's Teens explores the lives of these extraordinary talents, giving readers an up-close look at their upbringings and families, their professional beginnings, and the remarkable accomplishments of their careers. Did you know singing star Rhianna was a member of her high school military cadet corps? That despite earning millions for her movie roles, Dakota Fanning has never received an allowance? That Twilight's Robert Pattinson was routinely dressed up as a girl by his sisters? The biographies included in Superstars of the 21st Century are filled with little-known facts like these, as well as career highlights and real insights into the daily lives of this generation's iconic figures. Chapters on the young superstars who are today's teen icons Photographs of the young superstars of this generation An extensive bibliography of additional sources in print and online A comprehensive index

NATIONAL BESTSELLER Latin Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and author of the New York Times bestseller Forgiveness returns with this nationally bestselling memoir that shares the triumphs, hardships, and lessons of life after her mother Jenni Rivera's death. Bringing her signature warmth, humor, and positivity to the page, Chiquis Rivera picks up where her memoir Forgiveness left off. Reeling from her mother's tragic death, Chiquis finds herself at a major crossroads. As a new parent to her younger brother and sister, she struggles to balance her family's needs with her dreams of becoming a successful singer and entrepreneur. Stepping out of the shadow of her mother's legendary career and finding her own identity as a singer is challenging...but navigating unhealthy relationships proves to be even harder. When she meets and marries the person she believes is the man of her dreams, it seems like life is finally falling into place. But a dark secret unravels their relationship, and Chiquis emerges stronger as a single woman. In the end, nothing can keep Chiquis down. Her philosophy for life says it all: "Either I thrive, or I learn." Filled with life-affirming revelations, Chiquis ultimately shares her greatest gift with her fans-the accessible lessons that have made her unstoppable.

Maureen Stapleton is recognized as a leading star of stage, screen and television. Her career spans four decades during which she has received the highest acclaim for her great emotional power and versatility. A charter member of the renowned Actors Studio, Ms. Stapleton has won the top honors granted to performing artists, including the Oscar, Emmy and Tony Awards. Few actors have been so successful in all media. Maureen Stapleton: A Bio-Bibliography is the first book dedicated to the career of this consummate actress. A biographical narrative provides information on Ms. Stapleton's artistic development and significant events in her personal and professional life. A chronological summary demonstrates how effortlessly this actress has moved back and forth between stage and screen. Three comprehensive chapters, Stage Performances, Filmography, and Television Appearances, provide production information, cast lists, script synopsis, commentary and critical response. Each listing in these chapters has a separate number for cross-referencing throughout the volume. An annotated bibliography, appendix of awards and honors, and an index complete the volume. Part of Greenwood Press' ongoing series of Bio-Bibliographies in the Performing Arts, the work is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the career of this preeminent American artist.

The Silent Hurt portrays a young poor country girl with a disability who was labeled harshly by society. Even so, through strong determination and a powerful inner spirit, she refused to accept those labels. Jo Ann Coleman was born in the forties and lived in a very small town in Louisiana. At age five, she started school and soon realized that she was not like the other boys and girls in her class. Struggling first in elementary school, where she was immediately labeled as retarded, she eventually lost sight in her right eye. She grew up among cousins, without her parents, and constantly felt depressed and alone, facing name-calling from her peers. She graduated from high school and received a scholarship to attend nursing school-only to lose the scholarship due to missing an important letter. Because of her silent depression as a child, she eventually attempted suicide. Her disability and low self-esteem made her feel that no one cared. When she finally let Jesus Christ direct her life, however, everything turned around. She turned adversity into triumph and now seeks to inspire those afflicted by physical, emotional, and mental handicaps and low self-esteem. Although she made many mistakes and had her flaws, those flaws would eventually become her joy, peace, and contentment. With the true peace that comes from knowing Jesus Christ, she discovered the life she had been dreaming of since childhood.

When Derek Coller decided to pay tribute to his late friend - the author, biographer, discographer and researcher, Bert Whyatt - he looked for a common theme under which to group some of the articles they had written together over the years. He found it in Chicago where their research activities had gravitated towards the style of music created by the young white musicians from that city and its environs - particularly those who rallied around the figurehead of Eddie Condon - as they listened to and learned from the pioneer black stylists, many of them the greatest jazz players to emigrate from New Orleans, including King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Johnny and Baby Dodds and Jimmy Noone. Two trips to the USA, made by the authors in 1979 and 1992, led to meetings and correspondence with some of the musicians in this compilation, and to learning about many others. There are connections between most of these articles, interviews and notes, with an over-lapping of jobs, leaders and clubs. Some of the stories are about pioneers: Elmer Schoebel, Jack Pettis and Frank Snyder, for example, were in the New Orleans Rhythm Kings in 1923. Trombonist George Brunis, chronicled here, was also a member of that band, though his long career - during which he played with Muggsy Spanier, as did Rod Cless and George Zack, in the Spanier Ragtime Band of 'Great Sixteen' fame - has been more widely documented. Floyd Bean and Tut Soper, here too, were also Spanier alumni. The articles originally appeared variously under a dual by-line, or by either Whyatt or Coller, but always with consultation and discussion prior to publication. Here they become a lively mix of the voices of the authors as well as the musicians and their families, building a story through biography, reviews and discography. The book is illustrated with evocative black and white photographs and images, and there is an Index of names and places to help the reader keep track of the musicians, composers, producers, promoters and writers who created this part of the history of jazz.

A historian's task is a voyage of discovery, and in these personal reminiscences Ivor Guest allows the reader to share the romance of recreating times past. Since his first published article appeared in the 1940s he has vastly expanded and enriched our knowledge of ballet in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries through more than a score of books, many of them definitive works, that are a rare blend of scrupulous scholarship and readability. The story of his involvement in the world of ballet is a romance in itself. When he was drawn to the study of ballet history, comparatively little serious research had been done, and he found himself working in virtually virgin soil - the fulfillment of an historian's dream. The Paris Opera, with its library and archives, became his mecca, where he returned year after year to unearth the material on which were based his classic chronicles of the French ballet. In time his pre-eminence was to be recognised when he - an Englishman - was commissioned to write the official history of the Paris Opera Ballet. For him all this was a labour of love - almost in a literal sense, for as he reconstructed the lives of long-dead ballerinas through his patient research and deductive sleuthing, he fell under their spell like a man in love. His biographies are written with an easy style that conceals the toil that went into them, but in this book he tells of his quests for characters who were often maddeningly elusive, such as his 'first love', Fanny Cerrito. The account of his search for the date of her death is told with a touch of fine comedy, and culminates in the discovery of her descendants. These 'Adventures' are concerned mainly with Ivor Guest's work as a writer, but this is by no means the whole story. He played a crucial part in the creation of Frederick Ashton's 'La Fille mal gardee', discovering the early scores from which the music for this evergreen ballet was adapted, and his marriage to Ann Hutchinson led him up new paths as they combined their talents, hers as a specialist in dance notation, to recreate several choreographic gems from the past, including Fanny Elssler's famous Cachucha. And, to emphasise that his life is not all spent at his desk or in dusty archives, he tells the story of his involvement with the Royal Academy of Dance, as Chairman of its Executive Committee from 1969, when it was on the verge of bankruptcy, to the 1980s when it was riding high as the largest and most vital association of ballet teachers in the world. These reminiscences illuminate an aspect of the dance world that seldom comes into the limelight, yet is of great importance for its cultural significance. Scholars and writers who lift the curtain on the past work quietly in the background. This book tells the story of one of them, who in the field of dance scholarship is internationally recognised for his work.

This remarkable collection of wit, wisdom, and quotes of Clara "Gussie Bee" Kilgore has been compiled over the course of a lifetime. Combined with full color images and a completely unique text design ... this work of art by Cloyd Kilgore, Jr. offers you countless reasons to reflect, remember, and smile."THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO GOD AND THE MOTHERS OF THE WORLD ... This book is dedicated to God for my life at this time on this planet and for bringing all these wonderful angels into my life for my life lessons. Thank you Ms.Linda Jones, a very dear friend that without her love, belief and finance, this book would not be publishd at this time. Linda died 7- 14-10. I will miss and forever remember your love. Thank you."You are never alone, God is always with you.There is no right, there is no wrong; there are just lessons and perceptions.YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED;YOU HAVE GOD.GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES.NEVER TURN DOWN A FREE OFFER OF HELP; IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD.God Loves Everyone And Everything, You Should Too.BLESS THE GIVER AND THE GIFT."www.rev-press.com

"Leontyne Price: Highlights of a Prima Donna" is a collector's item. It was published in 1973 and covers some of the most essential years of her life and career. It has circulated extensively via libraries and has been cited in a variety of magazine articles, books and encyclopedias such as: "The Music of Black Americans: A History by Eileen Southern," 2nd Ed., 1985, W.W. Norton and Company, Inc.; "Biographical Dictionary of Musicians," 1992; "Current Biography," 1992; and "Opera In America" by John Dizikes, Yale University Press, 1993. "The life-story of Leontyne Price is told by Hugh Lee Lyon in "Highlights of a Prima Donna." He provides his reader with a candid view of her personal life. He brings into forefront some of the interesting hours spent at Wilberforce University and how she became an attraction in college."-"Earl Calloway, Chicago Daily Defender, Chicago Metrolitan Area, Illinois" "There is much to commend in the biography, "Leontyne Price: Highlights of a Prima Donna." The author has done considerable research into the salient points of the life of this opera star and concert artist. He interviewed family, friends and early teachers of Miss Price in her birthplace, Laurel Mississippi."-"William Duncan Allen, Performing ARTS, Berkeley, California" "Hugh Lee Lyon presents Leotyne Price in a warm and sympathetic light as he tells of the shy girl from Laurel, Mississippi, who became a world opera star. He gives us valuable information on an infrequently studies area of the Black musical experience and presents a bouquet to the diva."-"ENCORE"

Ann Sothern was often quoted as saying she had played every venue in show business except fairs. For over 60 years, she has captivated audiences from the stage, on radio and television, in film, and as a recording artist. This book is the first full-length examination of Miss Sothern's life and career. In addition to individual chapters on each facet of her life, the book features an extensive annotated bibliography of articles by and about Miss Sothern. The book includes a filmography and discography, as well as comprehensive lists of Miss Sothern's stage, radio, and television appearances. Schultz has done a magnificent job of documenting Ann Sothern's career. Classic Images Ann Sothern was often quoted as saying she had played every venue in show business except fairs. Ann Sothern: A Bio-Bibliography is proof that her statement was not far from wrong. For over 60 years, she has captivated audiences from the stage, on radio and television, in film, and as a recording artist. This book is the first full-length examination of Miss Sothern's life and career. In addition to individual chapters on each facet of her life, the book features an extensive annotated bibliography of articles by and about Miss Sothern. The book includes a filmography and discography, as well as comprehensive lists of Miss Sothern's stage, radio, and television appearances. Ann Sothern: A Bio-Bibliography is the first full-length examination of Miss Sothern's life and career. In addition to individual chapters on each facet of her career, the book features an extensive annotated bibliography of articles by and about Miss Sothern. The book includes a filmography and discography, as well as comprehensive lists of Miss Sothern's stage, radio, and television appearances. It is the first source to include a complete episode guide for Miss Sothern's television series, Private Secretary, The Ann Sothern Show, The Lucy Show, and My Mother the Car. An appendix lists products which were endorsed by Miss Sothern or which used her likeness in promotion. The book utilizes sixteen photographs, including four from Miss Sothern's personal collection, which she donated to the Ketchum Community Library in Ketchum, Idaho. A great library reference source, this book will be of interest to film scholars and fans of Miss Sothern.

For Bob Dylan enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in the history of music. This, the third book in the Troubadour Tales series takes us back to Minnesota and Dylan's hometown of Duluth. Bob Dylan born in Duluth in Minnesota, grew up in Hibbing, Minnesota and cut his musical teeth in the folk scene of Dinkytown, Minnesota. This guide brings together wonderful stories from each of these key locations and provides detailed information about the roots and the early life of Bob Dylan. We travel back in time to hear stories from his early teacher, tales of the mysterious wandering rabbi, eye-witness accounts from early Dinkytown musical collaborators, as well as being privy to secrets from behind the scenes of the classic Blood On The Tracks album. Fascinating insights into the history and life of one of the most important songwriters in music history and told with Minnesota voices, each with their own personal stories to tell.