Who Was Louis Armstrong (Who Was...?) ()
by Yona Zeldis McDonough
If not for a stint in reform school, young Louis Armstrong might never have become a musician. It was a teacher at the Colored Waifs Home who gave him a cornet, promoted him to band leader, and saw talent in the tough kid from the even tougher New Orleans neighborhood called Storyville. But it was Louis Armstrong's own passion and genius that pushed jazz into new and exciting realms with his amazing, improvisational trumpet playing. His seventy-year life spanned a critical time in American music...
This groovy, bebopping picture book biography chronicles the legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins's search for inspiration on the Williamsburg Bridge after quitting the jazz scene in 1959. Rollins is one of the most prolific sax players in the history of jazz, but, in 1959, at the height of his career, he vanished from the jazz scene. His return to music was an interesting journey--with a long detour on the Williamsburg Bridge. Too loud to practice in his apartment, Rollins played on the Ne...
The author/illustrator of the highly successful Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series lends his creative talents to another fun, informative series, this one featuring world-famous composers.
Help your child power up their reading skills and learn all about the sizzling jazz greats of the twentieth century with this engaging nonfiction reader carefully leveled to help children progress. DK Super Readers Level 4: History of Jazz will introduce kids to the history of this unique music and is a motivating introduction to using essential nonfiction reading skills, proving ideal for children ready to enter the riveting world of reading. DK Super Readers take children on a journey throu...
Help your child power up their reading skills and learn all about the sizzling jazz greats of the twentieth century with this engaging nonfiction reader carefully leveled to help children progress. DK Super Readers Level 4: History of Jazz will introduce kids to the history of this unique music and is a motivating introduction to using essential nonfiction reading skills, proving ideal for children ready to enter the riveting world of reading. DK Super Readers take children on a journey throu...
The Fastest Drummer: Clap Your Hands for Viola Smith!
by Dean Robbins
Clap your hands for Viola Smith—the pioneering female drummer at the heart of this bright and rhythmic biography, who rat-tat-tat-bang-crash-clink-boomed for nearly a century. Five girls played together in the Smith Sisters Orchestra: Irene on trombone, Erma on vibraphone, Edwina on trumpet, Mildred on violin, and Lila on saxophone. But what of the littlest sister? When Viola’s time came, almost every instrument was taken . . . except one. When she first sat behind a drum kit, she lost the beat...
Louis Armstrong (Childhood of Famous Americans (Paperback)) (Childhood of Famous Americans (Pb))
by Dharathula H. Millender
A biography of a trumpeter of humble origin who received international acclaim as a jazz entertainer.
Billie Holiday (Impact Biographies (Hardcover)) (Impact Biographies (Paperback))
by Leslie Gourse
Relates the story of the Afro-American woman who, despite a turbulent life, became one of the most famous singers in the history of jazz.
American Jazz Musicians (Collective Biographies)
by Stanley I Mour
Profiles ten notable jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis.
Flappers, flag-pole sitting, and the Ford Model T--these are just a few of the things that instantly conjure up a unique era--the Roaring Twenties. It was the bees' knees, the cat's meow. If you're not familiar with 1920s slang, all the more reason to read this fascinating look at that wild, exciting decade. It began on the heels of one tragedy--the flu pandemic of 1918--and ended with another: the start of the Great Depression. But in between there were plenty of good times--the Model T cars t...
Louis Armstrong (History Maker Bios (Lerner))
by Judith Pinkerton Josephson
Meet the inventors and innovators who defined American music history. A radio repairman imagined inventing the electric guitar. The inventor of 3-D glasses envisioned an electric organ in every home. And a German carpenter immigrated to New York City with the dream of designing the greatest piano in the world. From Steinway pianos and Moog synthesizers to Zildgian cymbals and Martin guitars, noted music writer VanHeke offers a fascinating, insider view of the personalities and perseverance that...
The Harlem Renaissance (21st Century Skills Library: Racial Justice in America: Excellence and Achievement)
by Hedreich Nichols and Kelisa Wing