Publisher's Weekly Review
Written by the Band's Robbie Robertson, his son, and two music industry executives, this weighty tribute provides two-page biographies of 27 artists from Chuck Berry to Bob Dylan, placing each one in the context of music history. The crucial contributions of African-American musicians, both to the development of rock and roll and to the Civil Rights movement, are celebrated. "At one concert, [Sam Cooke] was told he would have to perform twice: once for a white audience and another show for an all African-American audience. Sam refused." Unexpected connections in the family tree of music are traced, too. Jimi Hendrix started out touring with Little Richard; Merle Haggard was a convict in the audience when Johnny Cash performed in San Quentin. The first of each musician's two spreads features a striking, album art-style painting that evokes each star's style and genre of music (15 illustrators contribute), while the second contains the biography. Two CDs include a single hit from each musician, an impressive collection. An ideal gift for children whose parents have just discovered that they don't know who Otis Redding is. Ages 9-12. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Wow. Just wow! This book is big in every way. Robertson, best known as a member of the Band, and his cowriters introduce the heavyweights of popular music to a new generation. Incredible thought has been put into this oversize offering, from selection of the artists to the eye-popping design and even to the quality of the paper. CDs of the artists' music are included, something books about musicians often miss. The book's art is hard to resist. Big, bold graphic portraits begin every section. A variety of illustrators have provided the pictures, and each one is so memorable you want to rip it out and frame it. (Don't do that.) Chuck Berry duckwalks on a checkerboard. Aretha sings her heart out at the piano. In a graphite image, more like a photo than a drawing, a young, beautiful Elvis, guitar in hand, eyes the reader. In a book so visually appealing, it's a treat that the words grab as much as the pictures. Though each artist gets just a two-page spread, there's such well-chosen personal and professional information, young people will come away with an understanding of each person's evolution. All of the material feels fresh, and with back matter aplenty, there are lots of ways that this could be used in schools or kids could just kick back, read, and listen.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2010 Booklist
