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Non-Fiction

Infamous Italian interviewer features in new biography to mixed results
Americans often consider journalism in terms of large American institutions like The New York Times and The Washington Post, but a new biography in [...]
Author: Cristina de Stefano
Publisher: Other Press
Genre: Non-Fiction
Rage to Survive Autobiography of Etta James
Review of Etta James’s Autobiography, “Rage to Survive”
Etta James has become a household name, known for her powerful, soulful voice and hits such as “At Last.” Though James’ voice rings with the joy of her [...]
Author: David Ritz
Author: Etta James
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Genre: Diverse Books
Genre: Non-Fiction
All the World’s a Holi‘daze
Billie Holiday is remembered as being one of the most influential singers of her time, filling concert halls and venues with her powerful voice and [...]
Author: Donald Clarke
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Genre: Non-Fiction
Possibilities
Before going any further, stop and say ‘Hey, watermelon man!’, now lengthen the syllables and sing it. This is the general idea of one of Herbie Hancock’s [...]
Author: Herbie Hancock
Author: Lisa Dickey
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Non-Fiction
Monument Eternal: The Music of Alice Coltrane
Jazz and blues are two of the few genres of music in which women—specifically, black women—are welcomed, and even encouraged, to compose and perform. In [...]
Author: Franya J. Berkman
Publisher: Wesleyan University Press
Genre: Non-Fiction
Shout, Sister, Shout! The Untold Story of Rock and Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe
“You would become so enthralled with it, it was just, I don’t know the word to say for it, but she was very spiritual and very good.” This quote from [...]
Author: Gayle F. Wald
Publisher: Beacon Press
Genre: Non-Fiction
Peggy Gilbert & Her All-Girl Band
“Oh, yes, I can!” This was always Peggy Gilbert’s response to being told “no.” Throughout her years as a leader and performer in various bands, Gilbert was [...]
Author: Jeannie Gayle Pool
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Genre: Non-Fiction
Suits Me: The Double Life of Billy Tipton
When a respected musician passes away, they are almost always remembered for their artistry, their virtuosity, their character – if they’re lucky, perhaps [...]
Author: Diane Middlebrook
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Genre: Non-Fiction
Clifford Brown: The Life and Art of the Legendary Jazz Trumpeter
Clifford Brown is idolized by many today as the greatest jazz trumpeter to have ever played. He earned this reputation despite his untimely death at the [...]
Author: Nick Catalano
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Genre: Non-Fiction
I Put a Spell on You
Discover your purpose. This is a goal that unites all of us as we try to find a meaning in life. But imagine losing all autonomy of choice due to your [...]
Author: Nina Simone
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Genre: Non-Fiction