Composers & Musicians

Taking the Stage as the First Black and White Jazz Band in History by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illus, by James Ransome.

by Jonah Winter, illus. by Keith Mallett.  Visit New Orleans and discover in rhyme and jazzy, colorful art the story of this jazz legend. 

The Story of the Rock and Roll King by Bonnie Christensen.

The Sound of Joy Is Enlightening. Chris Raschka's art imaginatively illustrates this colorful, uplifting life story of the famed jazz musician.  Discography, too.

by Charlotte Voake.  Jaunty bios for Gr. 4-8 with illustrations, anecdotes, period history and activities. 

by Roxane Orgill, illus. by Francis Vallejo.  The story of Art Kane's famous photo of jazz greats.

by Charlotte Voake, narrated by Michael Cantwell.  An excellent all-in-one teaching package for elem.⁄middle school.

by Charlotte Voake.   Includes a CD with musical examples keyed to the text, photos and drawings, and suggested activities. 

by Nina Nolan, illus. by John Holyfield. People might say she was born with nothing. But little Mahalia had something: a voice bigger than she was.

Remastered original Verve recording of the 1950 studio session with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, Curly Russell and Buddy Rich.

An Interactive Storybook about John Phillip Sousa by Beck, Christian, and Sadowsky.

Music of Armstrong from Ken Burns documentary series "Jazz".

Short Sessions on the Lives, Times & Music of the Great Jazz Legends by Ronald C. McCurdy, Ph.D.

by Deborah Hopkinson,  illus. by Raul Colon.  The inspirational story about the creation of the Jubilee Singers-the most important black singing group of the 19th century.

by Anna Harwell Celenza, illus. by Don Tate. "Cats, this isn't the Nutcracker you're used to, " said Billy. 

If I Only Had a Horn: Young Louis Armstrong by Roxanne Orgill, illus. by Leonard Jenkins & Louis Armstrong in Concert CD.

by Lynne Barasch.  "Black or white, one leg or two, it doesn't matter. Good is good."Clayton danced everywhere he went. He had a heart for dancing. At age 12 his leg had to be amputated. But that didn't stop his desire to dance!

by Jonah Winter, illus. by Marjorie Priceman. The story of a little girl named Josephine Baker who dances her way from poverty to fame.

by Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Sean Qualls.  “Before John was a jazz giant, he was all ears.”

by Bonnie Christensen. Django played guitar in clubs until a fire burned his hands. He developed a compensating techinique and is known as the Greatest Jazz Guitarist.