Drawing on countless conversations and interviews with Butler and others, Smith chronicles the "Iceman's" journey from rural Mississippi to Chicago, and the founding and eventual breakup of the legendary Impressions vocal group."--BOOK JACKET.

For many of us, the dream of starting a family is the hope we hold most dear. Sometimes, though, things don’t go as easy as we planned. There are few who will admit the hardship this brings—from struggling with infertility to the daunting process of adoption—and we end up suffering in silence and solitude. In this candid and thoughtful memoir, author Ashley Biddiscombe takes an unflinching look at the struggle she and her wife faced in starting their family—something that might be especially familiar to LGBTQ couples like them—and their eventual decision to adopt children with special needs. Biddiscombe’s story gives voice to countless difficulties that often go unspoken along journeys like hers. Beginning with the secret traumas of fertility treatments and the heartbreak of having the “baby door” close, she examines the strain this can put on one’s relationship both to one’s partner and to one’s very self. Moving into the intimidating world of adoption, she probes the difficulties of raising children with unique and difficult traumas of their own, of establishing and maintaining a relationship with birth parents, and of the isolation one can feel as a LGBTQ couple in a world generally catered toward the straight. Finally, she relays the unique and often very private struggles of raising children with disabilities—from the social alienation one might feel from the “outside” world to the difficult process of finding the right diagnosis and support system. Ultimately, Only the Strong Survive is a story of resilience in the face of great pain and the indomitable power of unconditional love. No matter where you are in starting or raising a family, you are sure to find compassion and understanding herein.

For many Muslims, there is an inseparable connection between sound and meaning, particularly when it comes to Islamic verse and scripture. This provides fertile ground for a comparative study across traditions and forms. Timur Yuskaev offers a meditation on the Qur’an and human sensibilities, heard together, in American Muslim sermons. Foregrounding sound, poetry and music, it is a cultural anthropology of the Qur’an, carried out in conversation with colleagues in multiple disciplines, including Religions in America, Qur’anic, Islamic, Memory, Communication, and Sound Studies. The author draws upon the works of Mikhail Bakhtin, Charles Long, Mary Douglas and many others to hear mysticism in a homiletic symphony by Warith Deen Mohammed, to sense the experience of the covenant in a three-minute, ribbon-cutting speech by Aras Konjhodzic, and to appreciate the Qur’anic musicality of a down-to-earth interfaith address by Sarah Sayeed. A creative guide to an organic engagement with texts, this book will be of particular interest to those studying scriptures and the Qur’an.

Bruce Songs: The Music of Bruce Springsteen, Album-by-Album, Song-by-Song is an authoritative guide coauthored by renowned music scholar Kenneth Womack and music historian Kenneth L. Campbell and offering an in-depth exploration of Bruce Springsteen's musical legacy. Covering Springsteen's entire discography, from Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. to Only the Strong Survive, this unique book combines historical context, literary analysis, and meticulous research. Unlike any other resource, it provides detailed analyses of each album, essays on their historical significance, and a chronological examination of every studio song. Discover the stories behind the recordings and gain insight into Springsteen's creative process. Rich with contemporary reviews, insider accounts, photographs, and special sections highlighting pivotal moments and key figures, Bruce Songs is an indispensable companion for fans and scholars. It offers an immersive journey through the music of The Boss, making it an essential read for anyone captivated by Springsteen's enduring musical legacy.

I was experiencing another panic attack, so I did what I usually do when I develop one of my episodes, which is to sit down and write. So I wrote down Me Again, Only Better. It did not start to have it become a story of any kind, that is, until it was. The more I invested into what I was saying, the more clarity I was able to obtain. It became my point of reference. I had questions; I answered them. I had fears; I conquered them. I had extreme financial dilemmas; I am not doing badly in that department these days, thank heavens. I got knocked down a lot; I got back up a lot. I used all the tools and blessings that I had at my disposal to finally bring myself to a place of peace and understanding. And by understanding that through all life's uncertainties, if you keep your head above water and keep on trying, nothing is impossible or out of your reach. Trust me on this.

This volume is the first book-length study of the extensive career and prolific works of D.A. Pennebaker, one of the pioneers of direct cinema, a documentary form that emphasizes observation and a straightforward portrayal of events. With a career spanning decades, Pennebaker's many projects have included avant-garde experiments (Daybreak Express), ground-breaking television documentaries (Primary), celebrity films (Dont Look Back), concert films (Monterey Pop), and innovative fusions of documentary and fiction (Maidstone). Exploring the concept of "performing the real," Keith Beattie interprets Pennebaker's films as performances in which the act of filming is in itself a performative transgression of the norms of purely observational documentary. He examines the ways in which Pennebaker's presentation of unscripted everyday performances is informed by connections between documentary filmmaking and other experimental movements such as the New American Cinema. Through his collaborations with such various artists as Richard Leacock, Shirley Clarke, Norman Mailer, and Jean-Luc Godard, Pennebaker has continually reworked and redefined the forms of documentary filmmaking. This book also includes a recent interview with the director and a full filmography.

Bama Boy depicts the author's humble beginnings on a sharecropper's farm in North Carolina. One of 12 children, he picked cotton from the time he was six and went to school only on rainy days. "If your teacher ever feeds you, you can go to school every day," his mother told him. However, the book is not one of racial deprivation nor victimization, but one of achievement. Bobby's family moves up, and Bobby is the first in the family to graduate from high school. This is a story of Americana, coming-of-age, and personal achievement. The author chronicles the 70s and 80s in the Nation's Capital. He realizes his dreams of driving a good car, raising a son and sending him to college, winning tennis trophies and writing his first book. Some chapter headings are, "Easy Money" which explores the numbers racket, before and after it became legalized, as the lottery and asks the reader to think about the magic and mystery of numbers. See how it's done. "Cars, Cars and More Cars" depicts Bobby's passion for wheels. One chapter involves an interlude in Vietnam. The memoir ends with the author returning to his roots at North Carolina family reunion. Bama Boy depicts not only the black experience but also the human experience. It is a reading experience for people of all ages. it is especially inspirational for the teenager or young adult. Morrison has an easy, pleasing, graphic way of storytelling. the stories move swiftly and freely from one episode to another, explore the period, giving the reader an easy vicarious identification. Riding with the author from Washington to Atlantic City, a 17-year-old nephew, who is not an avid reader, devoured the book from cover to cover and wanted more.

Roderic B. Davis, Sr., is better known as "Coach Barry" or "Barry." Coach Barry has been coaching since 1976, when he was 19 years old. Due to his coaching and interacting with youth and their parents, he has had plenty of opportunities to talk to both, his players and their parents, about different situations in their life. He soon found out that coaching just for that particular sport was not the only reason why he was coaching. Everyday issues and situations about day-to-day life was the priority. When Barry talked to them, not having the time to think of a politically correct response or a perfect answer, God blessed him to be able to speak to them from his heart. Barry realized he was coaching for life. Today, he still teaches and coaches basketball, while giving life lessons with a common sense approach. It is said, "Common Sense" is not all that common. From My Heart shows how regular everyday issues and situations can either be solved, or changed for the better, by using plain old common sense. From My Heart will make people sit-up and take inventory of their lives to see if there was anything they could have done better, and if there is anything they can do better to improve their life. From My Heart is a book filled with God inspired messages. It was written to help people deal with life's issues and situations. As you read, you will see Barry has a passion for children, families, and people in general, who are trying to live their lives the best way they can. These messages are about all different aspects of life. Even though common sense may not seem to be that common, sooner or later, common sense has gotta kick in.

Songwriter's Market is packed with insider information about the music industry that can spell the difference between success and failure. You'll find support and encouragement through listings for support organizations, online resources, as well as articles and interviews with industry insiders. With completely updated listings for music publishers, record companies, managers, booking agents, and record producers, as well as information about how the music industry works and how to protect yourself from the scam artists of the industry, this helpful guide is every musician's best friend.

SYNOPSIS: John Doyle, a university student from the small Southern Ontario town of Kindler, one day received a letter from the government asking him to attend an exclusive meeting that would change his life forever. It leads him and his best friend, Frank to become involved in the local drug scene as they are asked to work undercover by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This takes John into a world before unknown to him, the world of drugs, violence and murder. The late 1960s, the time when this story takes place, are years in which turn on and tune out is the motto. John and his friends are trying to counteract this culture by developing a teen group that plans, finances and builds its own drop-in centre. The ideals of a Christian raised young man clash with the ideals of a fringe element in the town. During his investigations John helps the Mounties discover and take down the largest drug ring in Ontario. This comes with a cost. In this book the small town mentality is examined as well as the impact of the drug culture which transforms the community. John finally has to reveal his undercover work to the love of his life, Susan, and involve his own father to help capture the drug dealers who feed on the weaknesses of the young people of the town.