{"id":22543,"date":"2020-08-13T13:27:19","date_gmt":"2020-08-13T17:27:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=22543"},"modified":"2020-08-13T13:27:19","modified_gmt":"2020-08-13T17:27:19","slug":"dark-was-the-night-new-book-about-blind-willie-johnson-and-his-music-on-voyager-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=22543","title":{"rendered":"“Dark Was the Night” – New book about Blind Willie Johnson and his music on Voyager I"},"content":{"rendered":"

An announcement from Gary Golio<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Black Blues Legend Blind WiIlie Johnson Blasts into Outer Space<\/strong>
\n in New Picture Book about His Soul-Stirring Song<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Ask Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Lucinda Williams and Jack White to name the slide-guitar player they most admire, and they’ll all say Blind Willie Johnson. What those musicians may not know is that one of his songs found its way to the depths of outer space. In Dark Was the Night \u2013 Blind Willie Johnson’s Journey to the Stars<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, NY Times-bestselling author Gary Golio and Caldecott Honoree E. B. Lewis weave a magical tale of how the healing power of music can turn darkness into light.<\/p>\n

Born in 1897, young Willie shone as he sang and played a cigar box guitar made by his father. But his bright childhood fell dark when he lost both his mother and his sight. Fortunately, his love of music led him back into the light. He began singing in churches and later brought his unique blend of gospel-blues to street corners all over Texas. Willie’s powerful voice, joined to the wail of his slide guitar, moved even more people when he cut some records and his songs were played on the radio. Yet by the time he died, he and his music were largely forgotten.<\/p>\n

Then, in 1977, Willie’s haunting song, “Dark Was the Night<\/em>“, was launched into space on the Voyager I space probe’s famous Golden Record<\/a>. There, along with the many sounds and sights of planet Earth, is the soul-stirring song of a blind man, telling us not to be afraid of the dark, and reminding us that we are never really alone.<\/p>\n

“An ode to a too-little-discussed musician and an excellent introduction to his amazing musical talent.”<\/strong><\/em>
\nKirkus, *starred review*<\/p>\n

\u201cAn inspiring story of one man\u2019s commitment to lifting up himself and those around him with his music. <\/strong><\/em>
\nAn American treasure who shouldn\u2019t go unsung.”<\/strong><\/em>
\nBooklist<\/p>\n

“Lewis’s expressive watercolors depict the subject’s humble country beginnings as well as the joy that he felt when he sang and played”<\/strong><\/em>
\n“A beautiful, timely tribute to a little-known musician and space venture.”<\/strong><\/em>
\nSchool Library Journal, *starred review*
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Gary Golio<\/strong><\/a> is the author of the NY Times bestseller JIMI: Sounds Like a Rainbow \u2013 A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix<\/em>, winner of a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award; Bird & Diz<\/em> and Strange Fruit \u2013 Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song<\/em>, both ALA Notables; and other books about legendary artists. A writer and musician, Golio has been featured on NPR\u2019s “Weekend Edition”<\/a>, CBS-TV\u2019s \u201cSunday Morning News,\u201d<\/a> and on radio stations nationwide. He lives in the Hudson Valley with his wife, children\u2019s book author Susanna Reich.<\/p>\n

E.B. Lewis<\/a><\/strong> is a fine artist and the acclaimed illustrator of over 70 books, among them Coming On Home Soon<\/em> by Jacqueline Woodson (Caldecott Honor Award), Talkin’ About Bessie<\/em> by Nikki Grimes (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award), and The Secret World of Walter Anderson<\/em> by Hester Bass (Orbis Pictus Award). He is also the recipient of the NY Times Best Illustrated Book Award, Kirkus’ Best Illustrated Book Award, and four additional Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards. Lewis teaches at the University of Arts in Philadelphia, and lives in Folsom, New Jersey.<\/p>\n

Dark Was the Night: Blind Willie Johnson’s Journey to the Stars<\/strong><\/em><\/a>\"\"[Amazon commission link]
\nWritten by Gary Golio
\nIllustrated by E.B. Lewis
\nPublished by Penguin\/Nancy Paulsen Books
\nAugust 2020 \u2022 Ages 5-8 \u2022 32 pages \u2022 $17.99 hardcover\/$10.99 Ebook \u2022 ISBN: 978-1524738884<\/p>\n

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Here is a short video about Johnson and his music on the Voyager spacecraft: Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground, and brilliant is that song drifting through space | Aeon Videos<\/a><\/p>\n