The harmonica is one of the most important, yet overlooked, instruments in music. This definitive volume celebrates the history of the world's most popular musical device, its impact on various forms of music, folk, country, blues, rock, jazz and classical music. The author traces the development of the harmonica from the ancient Chinese sheng to futuristic harmonica sythesizers. Nearly seventy harmonica masters are profiled including Stevie Wonder, Little Walter, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Reed, Charlie McCoy, Sonny Terry, and John Popper. This updated edition includes an extensive new afterword, an expanded discography of the finest harmonica recordings, and a listing of the best harmonica resources on the internet.

Simply put, Billy Boy Arnold is one of the last men standing from the Chicago blues scene's raucous heyday. What's more, unlike most artists in this electrifying melting pot, who were Southern transplants, Arnold-a harmonica master who shared stages with Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf, plus a singer and hitmaker in his own right who first recorded the standards "I Wish You Would" and "I Ain't Got You"-was born right here and has lived nowhere else. This makes his perspective on Chicago blues, its players, and its locales all the rarer and all the more valuable. Arnold has witnessed musical generations come and go, from the decline of prewar country blues to the birth of the electric blues and the worldwide spread of rock and roll. Working here in collaboration with writer and fellow musician Kim Field, he gets it all down. The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold is a remarkably clear-eyed testament to more than eighty years of musical love and creation, from Arnold's adolescent quest to locate the legendary Sonny Boy Williamson, the story of how he named Bo Diddley Bo Diddley, and the ups and downs of his seven-decade recording career. Arnold's tale-candidly told with humor, insight, and grit-is one that no fan of modern American music can afford to miss.

Kim Fields has lived most of her life with people thinking they know her, which is understandable. From her first job on a Mrs. Butterworth syrup commercial at age 7, she has spent 40 years in the public eye. There were 9 years as Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey on the classic sitcom The Facts of Life, 5 more in her 20s starring as Regine Hunter on the seminal coming-of-age show Living Single, and most recently appearing as herself on Real Housewives of Atlanta and Dancing with the Stars.

Behind the camera, she has directed episodes of Kenan & Kel, Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns and House of Payne, and BET's Let's Stay Together. Between gigs, the pop culture icon's life has included theater, spoken word, music, speaking engagements, and simply being present to the point that she cannot go a day without someone stopping her to say, "When I was a kid, I wanted to be Tootie" or "You were my role model."

Flattered and blessed, after four decades in the business, Kim finally understands the role she has played onscreen and off as a successful, outspoken African-American woman. However, for as much as she's been in the public eye, people have really never known her the way they think they have, and that's because she, herself, spent most of her life figuring herself out. Now, at age 48, she is ready to set the record straight. She says, "It's not that I've been misunderstood. It's that I finally feel like I understand me enough to tell the life story that I've been asked to write for years." It will be a chronicle of living, learning, and keen moments of self-discovery as she's journeyed through the many facets and chapters of life. Fields found faith at age 14 and has found God to be right there every step of the way since then.

Brutus fÜhrt ein einsames Leben in einer Welt, in der Magie nichts UngewÖhnliches ist. Er ist Über zwei Meter groß, hÄsslich, und stammt aus einer Familie von schlechtem Ruf. Niemand, er selbst eingeschlossen, hÄlt ihn fÜr gut genug, mehr als nur Knochenarbeit zu verrichten. Aber Heldentum kommt in allen Formen und GrÖßen. Als er bei der Rettung eines Prinzen schwer verletzt wird, Ändert sich sein Leben schlagartig. Er wird in den Palast von Tellomer gerufen, um als WÄrter fÜr einen Gefangenen zu dienen. Das hÖrt sich recht einfach an, stellt sich aber als die grÖßte BewÄhrungsprobe seines bisherigen Lebens heraus. Wenn man den GerÜchten Glauben schenken darf, ist Gray Leynham ein Hexer und VerrÄter. Sicher ist nur, dass er Jahre im Elend verbracht hat: blind, in Ketten gelegt und nahezu stumm durch sein fÜrchterliches Stottern. Und er trÄumt vom Tod anderer Menschen. TrÄume, die sich bewahrheiten. Brutus gewÖhnt sich an das Leben im Palast und lernt Gray kennen. Er entdeckt dabei seinen eigenen Wert – erst als Freund, dann als Mann, und schließlich als Geliebter. Brutus lernt auch, dass Helden manchmal vor schwierige Entscheidungen gestellt werden und dass es nicht ungefÄhrlich ist, die richtige Entscheidung zu treffen.

Kim Fields has lived most of her life with people thinking they know her, which is understandable. From her first job on a Mrs. Butterworth syrup commercial at age 7, she has spent 40 years in the public eye. There were 9 years as Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey on the classic sitcom The Facts of Life, 5 more in her 20s starring as Regine Hunter on the seminal coming-of-age show Living Single, and most recently appearing as herself on Real Housewives of Atlanta and Dancing with the Stars. Behind the camera, she has directed episodes of Kenan & Kel, Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns and House of Payne, and BET's Let's Stay Together. Between gigs, the pop culture icon's life has included theater, spoken word, music, speaking engagements, and simply being present to the point that she cannot go a day without someone stopping her to say, "When I was a kid, I wanted to be Tootie" or "You were my role model." Flattered and blessed, after four decades in the business, Kim finally understands the role she has played onscreen and off as a successful, outspoken African-American woman. However, for as much as she's been in the public eye, people have really never known her the way they think they have, and that's because she, herself, spent most of her life figuring herself out. Now, at age 48, she is ready to set the record straight. She says, "It's not that I've been misunderstood. It's that I finally feel like I understand me enough to tell the life story that I've been asked to write for years." It will be a chronicle of living, learning, and ah-ha moments of self-discovery as she's journeyed through the many facets and chapters of life. Fields found faith at age 14 and has found God to be right there every step of the way since then.

When interstellar smuggler Haz Taylor loses his ship, his money, and his tattered reputation, drinking himself to death on a backwater planet seems like his only option. Then the Coalition offers him a contract to return a stolen religious artifact. Sounds simple enough, but politics can be deadly—and the artifact’s not enthusiastic about being returned. Haz didn’t sign up to be prisoner transport, but he’s caught between a blaster and hard vacuum. Still, that doesn’t mean he can’t show his captive some kindness. It costs him nothing to give Mot the freedom to move about the ship, to eat when he’s hungry… to believe that he’s a person. It’s only until they reach Mot’s planet. Besides, the Coalition would hate it, which is reason enough. Then he finds out what awaits Mot at home, and suddenly hard vacuum doesn’t look so bad. Haz is no hero, but he can’t consign Mot to his fate. Somewhere under the space grime, Haz has a sliver of principle. It’s probably going to get him killed, but he doesn’t have much to live for anyway….

Brute leads a lonely life in a world where magic is commonplace. He is seven and a half feet of ugly, and of disreputable descent. No one, including Brute, expects him to be more than a laborer. But heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and when he is maimed while rescuing a prince, Brute’s life changes abruptly. He is summoned to serve at the palace in Tellomer as a guard for a single prisoner. It sounds easy but turns out to be the challenge of his life. Rumors say the prisoner, Gray Leynham, is a witch and a traitor. What is certain is that he has spent years in misery: blind, chained, and rendered nearly mute by an extreme stutter. And he dreams of people’s deaths—dreams that come true. As Brute becomes accustomed to palace life and gets to know Gray, he discovers his own worth, first as a friend and a man and then as a lover. But Brute also learns heroes sometimes face difficult choices and that doing what is right can bring danger of its own.

When interstellar smuggler Haz Taylor loses his ship, his money, and his tattered reputation, drinking himself to death on a backwater planet seems like his only option. Then the Coalition offers him a contract to return a stolen religious artifact. Sounds simple enough, but politics can be deadly—and the artifact’s not enthusiastic about being returned. Haz didn’t sign up to be prisoner transport, but he’s caught between a blaster and hard vacuum. Still, that doesn’t mean he can’t show his captive some kindness. It costs him nothing to give Mot the freedom to move about the ship, to eat when he’s hungry… to believe that he’s a person. It’s only until they reach Mot’s planet. Besides, the Coalition would hate it, which is reason enough. Then he finds out what awaits Mot at home, and suddenly hard vacuum doesn’t look so bad. Haz is no hero, but he can’t consign Mot to his fate. Somewhere under the space grime, Haz has a sliver of principle. It’s probably going to get him killed, but he doesn’t have much to live for anyway….

Struggling business owner George is stuck in the past. Rootless Zephyr lives only in the present. Can they find the courage to build a future together? At thirty years old, George Harlow is at risk of becoming as fossilized as the prehistoric tourist attraction he inherited—the one that’s headed the way of the dinosaurs. Even if staying afloat didn’t take all his energy, the dating pool in his town is as dry as the desert surrounding it. As for the family trauma from his past? That can stay buried. Then Zephyr Steiber blows into his life. Zephyr lives up to his name, drifting wherever Fate takes him, sometimes renting his body in exchange for a ride. With his high heels and lace and bright personality, Zephyr brings a spark of life to George’s dried-up existence. For a while Zephyr is content to shelter in George’s refuge and to be George’s solace in return. Together they create an oasis. But with Zephyr haunted by the ghosts of bad decisions, and with George’s home and livelihood threatened by a global pandemic, can their tentative dreams for a future together survive reality?

Il silenzioso e magrolino Dylan Warner era il classico tipo che passava inosservato finché un'avventura di una notte non lo ha trasformato in un lupo mannaro. Ora, nonostante quel piccolo inconveniente peloso, vuole solo vivere una vita normale, anche se solitaria, facendo l'architetto. Cerca di tenere sotto controllo i suoi impulsi più selvaggi, ma dopo troppi episodi rischiosi in città, Dylan rinuncia alla vita cittadina e si trasferisce in campagna, dove avrà meno occasioni di fare del male a qualcuno. Acquista una nuova casa, derelitta ma promettente, circondata da un vecchio bosco di abeti destinati a diventare alberi di Natale e piena di sorprese. Per esempio, c'è il suo vicino Chris Nock, dall'aspetto un po' rustico ma attraente, che si rivela un uomo molto più complesso di quanto appaia. E poi c'è lo spirito importuno che minaccia di distruggere ciò che Dylan e Chris stanno costruendo. E inoltre, come scopre l'amico artista di Dylan, Ery Phillips, c'è anche un bellissimo e misterioso uomo di nome Karl, che emerge all'improvviso dal laghetto di Dylan. L'amore non è qualcosa di semplice, soprattutto quando intervengono forze soprannaturali, e sia Dylan che Chris, e più tardi Ery e Karl, dovranno impegnarsi per creare relazioni durature.

Jeremy Cox hatte keine sehr glückliche Kindheit. Er wuchs in einer Kleinstadt in Kansas auf, wurde in der Schule schikaniert und von seinen Eltern vernachlässigt. Aber er entkam dieser Enge und ging nach Portland, Oregon, wo er jetzt als Park Ranger arbeitet und versucht, Ausrei ern und Obdachlosen zu helfen. Er ist mittlerweile schon über vierzig und hat sich mit seinem Leben arrangiert, da steht eines Tages sein ehemaliger Freund Donny, den er vor sechs Jahren an die Alkohol- und Drogensucht verlor, vor der Tür und zieht Jeremy unweigerlich mit in seine Probleme hinein. Und als ob das noch nicht genug wäre, trifft Jeremy einen faszinierenden, rätselhaften Mann, der seinerseits auch sein Bündel zu tragen hat. Qayin Hill hat den Keller voller Leichen und den Kopf voller Dämonen. Er war früher drogensüchtig und kämpft auch jetzt noch mit Depressionen und Panikanfällen. Qay wei nicht, ob er Jeremy seine Geheimnisse anvertrauen kann oder wie er darauf reagieren soll, dass Jeremy immer wieder versucht, ihn vor sich selbst zu retten. Doch obwohl sie beide von ihrer Vergangenheit heimgesucht werden, finden Jeremy und Qay zusammen Leidenschaft, Freundschaft und die Hoffnung auf eine bessere Zukunft. Jetzt müssen sie nur noch entscheiden, ob ihre Liebe wirklich die Macht hat, um - wie ein altes Sprichwort besagt - alles zu überwinden. Oder ob manche Hindernisse so hoch sind, dass selbst die grö te Liebe vor ihnen kapituliert.

Born into poverty and orphaned young, Daveth Blyd had one chance for success when his fighting prowess earned him a place in the Tangye city guard—a place he lost to false accusations of theft. Now he scrapes out a living searching for wayward spouses and missing children. When a nobleman offers him a small fortune to find an entertainer who's stolen a ring, Daveth takes the case. While Jory Pearce may or may not be a thief, he certainly can't be trusted. But, enchanted by Jory's beauty and haunting voice, Daveth soon finds himself caught in the middle of a conspiracy. As he searches desperately for answers, he realizes that he's also falling for Jory. The two men face river wraiths, assassins, a necromancer, and a talking head that could be Daveth's salvation on their quest for the truth. But with everyone's integrity in question and Death eager to dance, Daveth will need more than sorcery to survive.

Né pauvre et devenu orphelin très jeune, Daveth Blyd a eu une chance de réussir lorsque ses talents de combattant lui ont valu une place au sein de la garde civile de Tangye - une place qu'il a perdue À la suite de fausses accusations de vol. Désormais, il joint les deux bouts en recherchant des époux malhonnêtes et des enfants disparus. Quand un noble lui offre une petite fortune pour retrouver un saltimbanque ayant volé une bague, Daveth accepte l'affaire. Que Jory Pearce soit ou non un voleur, on ne peut certainement pas lui faire confiance. Mais, envoûté par la beauté et la voix ensorcelante de Jory, Daveth se retrouve bientôt au coeur d'une conspiration. Alors qu'il cherche désespérément des réponses, il se rend compte qu'il s'attache de plus en plus À Jory. Dans leur quête pour découvrir la vérité, les deux hommes affrontent des assassins mystiques et humains, allant de tentatives de meurtre en trahisons. Mais quand l'intégrité de tous est remise en question et que la Mort est pressée d'entrer dans la danse, Daveth a besoin de plus que de sorcellerie pour survivre.

William, en instance de divorce, arrive à l'Asile d'Aliénés de Jelley's Valley pour en devenir le gardien. Il a bien l'intention de faire le point sur sa vie, finir sa thèse et découvrir quel homme il peut ètre; l'hétérosexualité a été un échec, mais l'homosexualité n'a jamais été une possibilité. Jusqu'à ce qu'il tombe, en faisant sa ronde, sur une boite en fer contenant des lettres ignorées du monde depuis plus d'un demi-siècle. Elles ont été écrites par Bill, jeune homme interné soixante-dix ans plus tôt, à une époque où l'homosexualité est une maladie qui doit ètre soignée par tous les moyens. De lettre en lettre, William découvre Bill, sa force, son courage, ses épreuves. De ces témoignages et sa rencontre avec Colby, gay, lumineux, ouvert et profondément gentil, il tire la force de faire la paix avec lui-mème. Le bonheur semble enfin à portée de main. Ils doivent simplement se laisser une chance.

L'amour ne peut pas..., numéro hors série Jeremy Cox a grandi dans une petite ville du Kansas, où sa vie était un enfer. Dès que possible, il s'en est échappé. La quarantaine passée, il gère les parcs publics de Portland, Oregon, tout en faisant de son mieux pour aider les gens de la rue, SDF et jeunes fugueurs. Son ex, Donny, dont il s'est séparé quelques années plus tôt à cause de ses addictions - alcool et drogue - réapparaît un jour devant sa porte et, par inadvertance, le met en grave danger. Comme si ça ne suffisait pas, Jeremy rencontre alors un homme fascinant, mais énigmatique, lui aussi hanté par son passé. Qayin Hill ne possède pratiquement rien, à part des squelettes dans son placard et des démons dans sa tête. Ancien toxicomane en lutte permanente contre l'anxiété et la dépression, il ne sait pas combien de ses secrets il peut révéler à Jeremy ni comment réagir en réalisant que ce dernier veut le sauver de lui-même. Malgré leurs problèmes respectifs, Jeremy et Qay découvrent ensemble l'amitié, la passion et un fragile espoir d'un avenir à deux. à présent, il leur faut décider si l'amour peut tout conquérir, comme le prétend le vieil adage, ou s'il ne suffit pas.

L'amour ne peut pas..., numéro hors série Petit mais costaud, telle pourrait ètre la devise de l'inspecteur Nevin Ng. Désormais inspecteur dévoué au commissariat de police de Portland, il n'a pas laissé un mauvais départ dans la vie l'empècher de protéger ceux qui en ont besoin. Il ne laisse personne lui marcher sur les pieds, il n'a aucune attirance pour les relations. Jusqu'à ce qu'il se rende chez une personne âgée qui s'est fait agresser avec une grande violence et rencontre le propriétaire de la victime, avec son noeud papillon et sa richesse évidente. Agent et promoteur immobilier, Colin Westwood a grandi dans tout ce qui a fait défaut à Nevin, comme un tas d'argent et une famille aimante qui le soutient sans condition. Qui le soutient trop, peut-ètre, parce qu'après une enfance marquée par la maladie, ses parents ont encore du mal à admettre qu'il est désormais un adulte fort et indépendant. Colin veut une relation, mais les siennes ne fonctionnent jamais. Maintenant, il se dit juste qu'il devrait arrèter de suivre le mouvement. Il est peut-ètre temps de tenter quelque chose de plus excitant. Mais ètre témoin d'un horrible crime, voire deux, n'était pas vraiment ce qu'il avait en tète. Malgré leurs différences, Colin et Nevin découvrent les étincelles qu'ils produisent quand ils sont ensemble. Mais les étincelles sont éphémères, refroidies par l'avènement de crimes brutaux, et Colin et Nevin semblent avoir si peu en commun. La question reste de savoir s'ils ont le désir de construire quelque chose de solide entre eux.

Zwischen dem Landstreicher Jimmy und dem Barmann Shane fliegen die Funken. Aber wird Jimmy um Shanes Willen dem Ruf der Stra e widerstehen können? Jimmy Dorsett ist schon seit seiner Jugend auf der Stra e unterwegs, ohne Heim und ohne Hoffnung. Er besitzt nicht viel: eine Reisetasche, ungezählte Geschichten aus einem unsteten Leben und eine alte Rostschüssel von Auto. In einer kalten Nacht nimmt er in der Wüste einen Anhalter mit, der ihm etwas Unverhofftes hinterlässt - nämlich den Brief eines sterbenden Mannes an den Sohn, den er seit Jahren nicht mehr gesehen hat. Jimmy will den Brief bei seinem Adressaten abliefern und landet in Rattlesnake, einer kleinen Stadt in den Hügeln der kalifornischen Sierra. Im Zentrum der Stadt befindet sich das Rattlesnake Inn, wo der frühere Cowboy Shane Little als Barmann arbeitet. Zwischen den beiden Männern fliegen die Funken, und als Jimmys Auto den Geist aufgibt, besorgt ihm Shane im Rattlesnake Inn einen Job als Handwerker. In der Gemeinschaft der kleinen Stadt und in Shanes Armen findet Jimmy eine ungewohnte Ruhe. Aber das kann nicht von Dauer sein. Die Stra e ruft und Shane - ein starker, stolzer Mann mit einer leidvollen Vergangenheit und einer komplizierten Gegenwart - hat mehr verdient als einen verlogenen Landstreicher, der es nirgends lange aushält.

Ennek Trilogy: Book Three Ennek, the son of the Chief, and Miner, a former slave, have escaped the totalitarian city-state of Praesidium and remain fugitives. Having defeated two mighty wizards, they begin to realize complete freedom can be as dangerous as absolute power. Now Ennek and Miner must face battles, corruption, and further journeys through lands both new and familiar. As they grow more secure in their relationship, they learn the greatest challenges sometimes come from very close to the heart and everything of value has a price. With the help of a few allies, they seek equipoise-a balance for themselves and for their world.

Kyle Green is on top of the world. He and Matt have been together for ten years, and—as the voice of Ecos, the wildly popular anime character—Kyle is treated like a rock star in anime circles. But in an instant, a stroke leaves him blind. When photographer Matt gets the opportunity of a lifetime, Kyle reexamines their relationship, discovers it has been a safety net rather than a true romance, and sets Matt free to pursue his dream. Kyle's life and career as he knew them are gone, and he must now find the courage and creativity to draft a new plan. After being away for fifteen years, Seth Caplan comes home to Chicago to care for his mother and to partner with a small start-up tech company. He and Kyle meet after Kyle's collision with a child's sidewalk toy, and they hit it off. Kyle wants to get back into running, and Seth becomes his guide. As they get to know each other, they start seeing each other beyond their three-times-a-week runs. But Seth's revelation of the dark reason why he left his career in California sends the relationship into a tailspin and leaves both men running blind.

Ennek Trilogy: Book Two Ennek, the son of Praesidium's Chief, has rescued Miner from a terrible fate: suspension in a dreamless frozen state called Stasis, the punishment for traitors. As the two men flee Praesidium by sea, their adventures are only beginning. Although they may be free from the tyranny of their homeland, new difficulties await them as Miner faces the continuing consequences of his slavery and Ennek struggles with controlling his newfound powers as a wizard. Now fugitives, Ennek and Miner encounter challenges both human and magical as they explore new lands and their deepening relationship with each other.

Ennek Trilogy: Book One Praesidium is the most prosperous city-state in the world, due not only to its location at the mouth of a great bay but also to its strict laws, stringently enforced. Ordinary criminals become bond-slaves, but the worst punishment-to be suspended in a dreamless frozen state known as Stasis-is doled out by the wizard and reserved for only the most serious of traitors. Ennek is the youngest son of Praesidium's strict Chief. Though now a successful portmaster, Ennek grew up without much of a purpose, unable to fulfill his true desires and always skating on the edge of the law. But he is also haunted by the plight of one man, Miner, a prisoner for whom Stasis appears to be a truly horrible fate. If Ennek is to save Miner, he must explore Praesidium's deepest secrets as well as his own.