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Messengers

Name: Messengers
Author: David Ritz
ISBN: 9780385513951

by Ritz, David, Goode, Nicola

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Overview

David Ritz recently embraced Christianity. MESSENGERS is a tribute to the people who awakened his personal faith and to others, both famous and unknown, whose words--sometimes set to music--have inspired millions of believers. The gifted photographer Nicola Goode contributes glowing portraits of each of them.

The messengers are an extraordinarily diverse group: women and men; ministers and musicians; singers and teachers; preachers known throughout the world and preachers known only in their neighborhoods. There are stories and reflections from Bishop Noel Jones (brother of Grace), Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts, and Rev. Peter Gomes of Harvard; from the gospel mega-stars Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Winans, Smokey Norful, and Candi Staton, and from a grief counselor, a former backup vocalist for Ray Charles, and a Washington, D.C., pastor who also runs a window-washing business. In voices joyful, clear, and strong, these mighty men and women of God convey messages of hope and love addressed directly to the heart.

About the Author, David Ritz

DAVID RITZ, coauthor of Howling at the Moon, is the only four-time winner of the Ralph J. Gleason/Music Books Award for Best Music Book of the Year. He has written biographies of Marvin Gaye and jazz singer Jimmy Scott, and coauthored the autobiographies of Ray Charles, BB King, Aretha Franklin, and other entertainers. He lives in Los Angeles, California. NICOLA GOODE, born and raised in Los Angeles, received her B.F.A. in photography from Yale University. A member of the Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers, Nicola has worked on numerous feature films and documentaries. Her work has been published in magazines and books and has been exhibited in galleries around the world. When she is not elsewhere, she can be found in Los Angeles with her husband and two-year-old son, Dylan.

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly

Award-winning music writer Ritz (whose credits include a biography of Marvin Gaye and a coauthored autobiography of Ray Charles) grew up Jewish-but in his 60s, he "finally embrace[d] Jesus." Looking back, he sees that he had been getting to know Jesus for decades, and that he learned about him most powerfully from African-American musicians and ministers. This heartwarming book profiles 25 of Ritz's heroes, including well-known figures, like the Rev. Calvin Butts and gospel musician Kirk Franklin, and less famous people, like pastor Jackie McCullough. Each entry comprises a brief reflection by the musician or minister and several stunning portraits by photographer Goode. Some of the selections are quite vivid-we can almost hear these saints preaching. When California bishop Noel Jones promises that we can be renewed and revivified like Lazarus, it's as though we are in the room with him. Still, Ritz's failure to provide even a paragraph of introduction about each of the 25 luminaries in this book will limit the audience to those in the know. And that would be a shame, because both the words and images that Ritz has pulled together are inspiring. (Mar. 21) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.