We are pleased to announce Black Opera: History, Power, Engagement by Naomi André has won the Society for American Music‘s Irving Lowens Book Award. From the SAM Bulletin:“Focusing on opera, […]
Category: biography
Joanna Russ Finalist For 2020 Hugo Award
We’re pleased to announce that Joanna Russ by Gwyneth Jones in our Modern Masters of Science Fiction Series, is a finalist for the 2020 Hugo Awards in the Best Related […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]