Samuel Willard Crompton

Charlotte Etinde-Crompton

"A bandleader and trumpet player, Miles Davis was one of the twentieth century's greatest musicians. Performing with jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker early in his career, Davis expanded the idea of what jazz could be. His greatest albums redefined the genre, and members of his band, such as Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea, went on to become famous in their own right. Readers will learn that Davis also faced challenges, including rocky romances and a drug addiction he struggled to kick. Through it all, he found comfort in his music, which remains relevant decades after his death."--Publisher's description.

Jazz Musician and Composer

Miles Davis

Like many artists before her, Zora Neale Hurston received virtually no recognition for her work until after her death. Hurston began her career as an anthropologist, observing and documenting the tension of race relations in the American South. She strove to expose the horrific practice of "paramour rights," wherein white men sexually exploited black women in their employment. But this work and her later fiction, including the now famous Their Eyes Were Watching God, would end up in relative obscurity as her fictional portrayal of African American dialect was criticized as offensive and her political views were often less progressive than those of her contemporaries. With engaging, accessible text, this biography gives readers a fuller picture of this complicated writer and woman.

Author and Anthropologist

Zora Neale Hurston

Like many artists before her, Zora Neale Hurston received virtually no recognition for her work until after her death. Hurston began her career as an anthropologist, observing and documenting the tension of race relations in the American South. She strove to expose the horrific practice of paramour rights, wherein white men sexually exploited black women in their employment. But this work and her later fiction, including the now famous Their Eyes Were Watching God, would end up in relative obscurity as her fictional portrayal of African American dialect was criticized as offensive and her political views were often less progressive than those of her contemporaries. With engaging, accessible text, this biography gives readers a fuller picture of this complicated writer and woman.

Aretha Franklin was blessed with one of the greatest voices in all of popular music. She sang from the age of eight, and performed professionally from the age of fourteen. Her talent, which many described simply as God-given, seemed sufficient to ensure her a life of comfort and ease. In spite of earning large sums of money and having millions of adoring fans, Franklin experienced powerful insecurity. Nonetheless, the "Queen of Soul" persevered and became one of the legendary talents of her generation. With this fact-filled biography, readers will be able to celebrate this extraordinary artist by learning all about her fascinating life and career.

The Queen of Soul

Aretha Franklin

Augusta Savage endured more, far more, than her fair share of sorrow and difficulty. She lost three husbands, one child, and many friends. So it isn't surprising that she sometimes fell into bitterness and despair, but she usually found a remedy for the pain: using her strong fingers to shape works of art. This volume treats Savage as a complex and difficult person who nonetheless wins our admiration. In addition to a comprehensive narrative, readers will discover Savage through her own words, from letters and magazine interviews, revealing this woman as she was: dogged, inspired, and relentless.

Charlotte Etinde-Crompton

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