Category Archives: biography

March 9, 2020

Q&A with Robert E. Weems Jr., author of The Merchant Prince of Black Chicago

Posted by Ali Wasielewski
in African American Studies, author commentary, authors, biography, black studies, Chicago, new books, Q&A | Tagged , | Comments Off on Q&A with Robert E. Weems Jr., author of The Merchant Prince of Black Chicago

Robert E. Weems Jr. recently answered some questions about his book, The Merchant Prince of Black Chicago: Anthony Overton and the Building of a Financial Empire. Q: Why did you decide to write this book?   Anthony Overton is widely regarded … Continue reading →

October 26, 2018

Sneak Peek Inside “Bill Monroe: The Life and Music of the Blue Grass Man”

Posted by michael
in american history, biography, bluegrass, excerpt, music | Comments Off on Sneak Peek Inside “Bill Monroe: The Life and Music of the Blue Grass Man”

Tom Ewing presents fans of bluegrass music with an in-depth and long-awaited biography on the Blue Grass Man himself, Bill Monroe. Called “insightful” by The Wall Street Journal,  Bill Monroe: The Life and Music of the Blue Grass Man covers Monroe’s story … Continue reading →

July 23, 2018

A Q&A with Walter Aaron Clark, author of “Los Romeros: Royal Family of the Spanish Guitar”

Posted by michael
in biography, guitar, latino studies, music | Comments Off on A Q&A with Walter Aaron Clark, author of “Los Romeros: Royal Family of the Spanish Guitar”

Walter Aaron Clark is Distinguished Professor of Musicology and the founder/director of the Center for Iberian and Latin American Music at the University of California, Riverside. His books include Isaac Albéniz: Portrait of a Romanticand Enrique Granados: Poet of the Piano. In 2016, … Continue reading →

May 30, 2018

Q&A with Himanee Gupta-Carlson, author of “Muncie, India(na): Middletown and Asian America”

Posted by michael
in american history, asian american studies, authors, biography, culture, Illinois / regional, immigration, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Q&A with Himanee Gupta-Carlson, author of “Muncie, India(na): Middletown and Asian America”

Himanee Gupta-Carlson is an associate professor at SUNY Empire State College. She recently answered some questions about her new book, Muncie, India(na): Middletown and Asian America. Q. Muncie, Indiana is well-known for being the site of the famous Middletown Studies, … Continue reading →

May 21, 2018

Q&A with Naomi André, author of “Black Opera: History, Power, and Engagement”

Posted by michael
in African American Studies, american history, biography, ethnomusicology, music, Uncategorized, women's history, world history | Comments Off on Q&A with Naomi André, author of “Black Opera: History, Power, and Engagement”

Naomi André is an associate professor in the departments of African and Afroamerican Studies and Women’s Studies and the associate director in the Residential College at the University of Michigan. She is the author of Voicing Gender: Castrati, Travesti, and the Second … Continue reading →

February 28, 2018

In search of Lincoln’s hand

Posted by rkcunningham
in biography, Illinois / regional, Lincoln | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on In search of Lincoln’s hand

The Railsplitter always remains newsworthy. Perhaps you remember the recent Lincoln-related crime wave in Kankakee, Illinois, where a thief or thieves took a plaster sculpture of Abraham Lincoln’ hand. Let’s go to local reaction, as reported in the January 3, 2016 … Continue reading →

February 5, 2018

In praise of suckers and P. T. Barnum

Posted by rkcunningham
in backlist classics, biography | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on In praise of suckers and P. T. Barnum

We are now three years and one day removed from this unforgettable event: Diaper-Wearing Service Kangaroo Kicked Out of Wisconsin McDonald’s You know who else liked kangaroos? P.T. Barnum. You know who publishes his every-word-guaranteed-to-be-true* autobiography? The University of Illinois … Continue reading →

January 15, 2018

Happy Birthday Steven Soderbergh

Posted by rkcunningham
in biography, film | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Birthday Steven Soderbergh

Born on January 14, 1963, in Atlanta, Steven Soderbergh found filmmaking in his teens. His Hollywood apprenticeship included work as a cue card holder and a director of concert films. In 1986, his film Sex, Lies, and Videotape helped launch the surge … Continue reading →

January 5, 2018

Curly Seckler RIP

Posted by rkcunningham
in biography, bluegrass, music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Curly Seckler RIP

During the holiday break, we received the sad news that bluegrass pioneer Curly Seckler had passed away at the age of 98. “The greatest tenor singer of all time,” said Marty Stuart, and indeed Seckler’s vocal and mandolin work with the … Continue reading →

December 11, 2017

Happy Birthday Frank Sinatra

Posted by rkcunningham
in biography, film, music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Happy Birthday Frank Sinatra

One hundred-and-one years ago, Francis Albert Sinatra entered the world in Hoboken, New Jersey. He proceeded to live one of the more completely lived lives this side of Casanova. Though foiled by television, Sinatra otherwise thrived across mass media, earning love … Continue reading →