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.

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 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.

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.

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….

The Alpha plan is a blueprint for good nutrition and healthy living for college bound students. It offers practical, easy and effective ways to set up a healthy trajectory for life. It describes essential dietary elements and gives practical advice for specific situations, like how to equip student's kitchen or what to eat when there is none. More than 250 simple, tasty and inexpensive recipes are offered to the novice cook.

A Stars from Peril Novel Painting themselves a life together will be a royal ordeal. Small-town boy Cal Walters doesn't know whether he owes his phenomenal success as an artist to talent or to his connections to famous people. Doubt leaves him secluded—until a lost bet lands him on yet another blind date. But this one is different. To Teofilo Vabriga-Kastav, playboy prince of the tiny nation of Porvunia and passionate art lover, Cal's paintings are as intriguing as Cal himself. When Teo invites Cal to his country for an art competition, a whirlwind romance sweeps them up. But it can't last—loyalties and obligations bind them to lives that are worlds apart. Cal and Teo might've found their perfect complements in each other, but to hold on to their happiness, they'll have to get creative.

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.

Love never goes out of style.Landry Bishop fled his tiny hometown and never looked back. Now his expertise in food, fashion, and décor has earned him all of Hollywood’s glittering perks. But with his husband deceased and his personal assistant retired, Landry has nobody to rely on—and no one to help him indulge his secret cravings.Casual, plainspoken Jordan Stryker seems a dubious choice of a PA for someone as formal and self-controlled as Landry. Jordan’s questionable fashion sense and limited kitchen skills don’t exactly enhance his résumé. But as Landry soon realizes, Jordan has many attractive qualities too.With a strong pull toward Jordan, new career opportunities on the horizon, and a persistent tug from family back home, Landry is in a quandary. He can advise others on how to make their lives special, but what should he do about his own?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.