General & Miscellaneous Music, Popular & Rock Musicians - Biography, African American Entertainers - Biography, African American General Biography

African American Musicians

Name: African American Musicians
Author: Eleanora E. Tate
ISBN: 9780471253563

by Eleanora E. Tate, Jim Haskins

Write a review

Overview

Meet the black musicians who created America's greatest music—from the early years to modern times Marian Anderson Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Chuck Berry Thomas "Blind Tom" Greene Bethune Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle James Brown Ray Charles Edmund Dede Thomas Andrew Dorsey Duke Ellington Ella Fitzgerald Aretha Franklin Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield W. C. Handy Mahalia Jackson Michael Jackson Francis Hall Johnson Scott Joplin B. B. King Queen Latifah Millie-Christine McCoy Jessye Norman Gertrude "Ma" Rainey (Pridgett) Doug and Frankie Quimby Paul Robeson Bessie Smith Stevie Wonder

Presents biographical profiles of African Americans, both legendary and less well-known, who have made significant contributions to music in the United States over the past 200 years.

Synopsis

Meet the black musicians who created Americais greatest music—from the early years to modern times Marian Anderson Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Chuck Berry Thomas "Blind Tom" Greene Bethune Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle James Brown Ray Charles Edmund Dede Thomas Andrew Dorsey Duke Ellington Ella Fitzgerald Aretha Franklin Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield W. C. Handy Mahalia Jackson Michael Jackson Francis Hall Johnson Scott Joplin B. B. King Queen Latifah Millie-Christine McCoy Jessye Norman Gertrude "Ma" Rainey (Pridgett) Doug and Frankie Quimby Paul Robeson Bessie Smith Stevie Wonder

Parent Council Reviews

This book showcases twenty-seven African American musicians from the early nineteenth to the late twentieth centuries. In addition to familiar names such as Scott Joplin, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, and Michael Jackson, several lesser known but significant figures are featured, including Millie-Christine McCoy, Francis Hall Johnson, and Doug and Frankie Quimby. Numerous sidebars highlight other important musicians. An interesting and readable survey of how great musicians shaped popular American music. Part of the "Black Stars" series. 2000, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., $22.95. Ages 10 to 12. Reviewer: G. Henebry SOURCE: Parent Council Volume 8

About the Author, Eleanora E. Tate

ELEANORA E. TATE is a children's book author who has won numerous awards, including a CBC/NCSS Notable Childrenís Trade Book in the field of social studies for Thank You, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.! and a Parent's Choice Gold Seal Award for The Secret of Gumbo Grove.

JIM HASKINS has written more than 100 nonfiction books for young readers. A professor of English at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Haskins has won numerous awards, including the Washington Post Childrenís Book Guild Award.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

From The Critics

Children's Literature - Children's Literature

This collection portrays the struggles of talented African American musicians against racism and segregation in order to pursue their art. Included are pre-civil war musicians, musicians during the Civil War and Reconstruction era, the early 20th century and modern day musicians, including rap artists. Some are singers, others are composers or play instruments but they all draw on their culture and environment to present their artistic talent. One of the early, less known artists, was Millie-Christine McCoy, Siamese twins, who performed before Queen Victoria. She was so impressed with them that she gave each a pair of matching diamond brooches. A recent book Millie-Christine Fearfully and Wonderfully Made covers the exploitation of her life rather than the musical talent that she had. (They considered themselves as one being.) The author of this book focuses on the contribution that she made through her talent rather than how she was physically different. Besides many of the well-known musicians such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Marian Anderson and Aretha Franklin there are lesser-known talents included. Thomas Andrew Dorsey, a gospel song writer, Doug and Frankie Quimby of the "Hambone Song," Francis Hall Johnson of the Hall Johnson Choir and Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, one of the earliest African American to enter the American scene as a classical singer. 2000, John Wiley & Sons Inc., Ages 10 to 14, $22.95. Reviewer: Leila Toledo—Children's Literature

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-This collective biography presents performers from the early 1800s (Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield) to the present day (Queen Latifah). Many genres and skills are represented from spirituals, gospel, ragtime, blues, jazz, and soul. Scott Joplin, Marian Anderson, Duke Ellington, and Aretha Franklin are here as well as Michael Jackson and a few lesser-known individuals. Each entry includes a black-and-white photo or reproduction and sidebars on pertinent topics. This is a good overview that gives enough information to inspire further study on individual musicians.-Janet Woodward, Garfield High School, Seattle, WA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|