A New York Times Notable Book

"As resonant as a blues song. . . . Expect miracles when you read Ann Patchett's fiction."—New York Times Book Review

An ex-jazz drummer wants nothing more than to be a good father in this moving family novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Dutch House.

When John Nickel's lover takes away his son, Nickel is left only with his

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Collects essays, notes, and other writings by poet and music critic Amiri Baraka in which he blends history, musical analysis, autobiography, and political commentary about the music--particularly jazz--he has encountered throughout his life.

"From the streets of Baltimore to the halls of the New Mexico Philharmonic, a musician shares his remarkable story in I'm Possible, an inspiring memoir of perseverance and possibility. Growing up, Richard Antoine White and his mother didn't have a key to a room or a house. Sometimes they had shelter, but they never had a place to call home. Still, they always had each other, and from a young age, Richard believed he could look after his mother, even...

Presents a collection of poems that describe the life and times of blues musician Leadbelly.

Traces the evolution of blues through the personal histories of great bluesmen including Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and B.B. King.

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.

Presents the life of one of the bestselling artists of all time, from her start singing in front of her father's Baptist congregation to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.