The true story of the Temptations, the vocal soul group of the 1960s, as seen from the viewpoint of the last surviving member, Otis Williams. Beginning from their humble origins in the late '50s and continuing through the '90s and the deaths of the other four members.

Imagine a world in which gospel, the blues, jazz, R & B, and rock 'n' roll didn't exist. These indigenous American musical forms are the product of, and a moving expression of the African American experience. Musical geniuses and innovators like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, B.B. King, and Jimi Hendrix turned individual and collective histories of suffering and injustice into soul-stirring, monumental art that shattered boundaries,...

Musician Bobby Brown successfully crossed over many genres, charting with R&B and hip hop as well as the mainstream. In the late 1980s, the former front man of New Edition had a wildly successful solo career with the launch of Don't Be Cruel, garnering multiple hits on the Billboard top ten list as well as several Grammy, American Music, and Soul Train awards. But Brown then put his career on hold to be with the woman he loved -- American music royalty...

Musician Daryl Davis has an unusual hobby. He's played all over the world with legends like Chuck Berry and Little Richard, but it's what Daryl does in his free time that sets him apart. In an effort to find out how anyone can 'hate me without knowing me' he takes an interesting line of research. Daryl likes to meet and befriend members of the Ku Klux Klan, something few black men can say.

Blues accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins: Hopkins' words and songs provide a musical portrait of the black culture of Texas, which reaches back to poverty, hard times, and a deep love of the land. Sun's gonna shine: A lyrical recreation of Lightnin' Hopkins' decision at age eight to stop chopping cotton and start singing for his living.

Acoustic Rooster forms a jazz band with Duck Ellington, Bee Holliday, and Pepe Ernesto Cruz to compete in the annual Barnyard Talent Show against such greats as Thelonius Monkey, Mules Davis, and Ella Finchgerald. Includes glossary, notes on the characters and songs, and jazz timeline.

"[This] is an inside look at the work of hip-hop photographers told through their most intimate diaries--their contact sheets. Featuring rare outtakes from over 100 photo shoots alongside interviews and essays from industry legends, this gorgeous book takes readers on a chronological journey from old-school to alternative hip-hop, and from analog to digital photography. The ultimate companion for music and photography enthusiasts, Contact High is...

When Tony Lip, a bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx, is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley, a world-class Black pianist, on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must rely on a book to guide them to the few establishments that were then safe for African-Americans. Confronted with racism, danger, as well as unexpected humanity and humor, they are forced to set aside differences to survive and thrive on the journey...

Lazarus is an extremely religious man who is broken hearted after his wife leaves him for his own brother. Rae is the town slut, apparently afflicted with the "disease" of uncontrollable nymphomania. After a night of hard partying and sleeping around, Rae, is beaten up and left by the roadside near Lazarus' house. Lazarus takes her in and chains her to his radiator while trying to "cure" her insatiability. Eventually, the two become friends and help...

"The story of guitarist Jimi Hendrix's career told in verse"--