The poignant story of Blind Willie Johnson--the legendary Texas musician whose song "Dark Was the Night" was included on the Voyager I space probe's Golden Record
Gary Golio is a fine artist, musician, and psychotherapist. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller JIMI- Sounds Like A Rainbow-A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix and many other award-winning books. He lives in Briarcliff Manor, New York.
* “When NASA scientists compiled a recording of sounds to send into
space representing Earth and humanity, those sounds included
thunder, crickets, classical pieces, and a short wordless song by
musician ‘Blind Willie’ Johnson. . . . The second-person
narrative is brief but evocative. . . . Lewis’ illustrations have a
soft, blurred effect to them, conveying both the bygone time and
Johnson’s vision loss. . . . An ode to a too-little-discussed
musician and an excellent introduction to his amazing musical
talent.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* “Lewis’s expressive watercolors depict the subject’s humble
country beginnings as well as the joy he felt when he sang and
played. The book’s recurrent theme of light is captured in the
bright yellow wash throughout. The story of Johnson’s life is
framed with vivid spreads of a night sky illuminated by stars,
referencing both the Voyager’s mission and the song title. A
beautiful, timely tribute to a little-known musician and space
venture.”—School Library Journal, starred review
* “The inclusion of Johnson’s song ‘Dark Was the Night’ on a
recording aboard NASA’s Voyager frames this biography, handled with
artistry by Golio and illustrated by Lewis in dazzling watercolors.
. . . The volume movingly commemorates Johnson and his music, which
‘shined a light in the darkness and finally touched the
stars.’”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"The subject of this beautiful biography is blues musician Blind
Willie Johnson, whose soulful singing and slide guitar playing so
moved people that his song ‘Dark Was the Night’ was included on the
Golden Record that NASA sent into space in 1977. . . . A simple,
inspiring story of one man’s commitment to lifting up himself and
those around him with his music. ‘It was the sound of one human
being reaching out to all the others, telling them not to be afraid
of the dark.’ Imagery of light and darkness runs throughout the
text, both spiritually and literally in Johnson’s blindness, and it
is also skillfully evoked in Lewis’ illustrations, which set stars
sparkling in the deep blue of outer space and sends gold radiating
from Johnson’s guitar as he plays, smiling all the time. An
American treasure who shouldn’t go unsung.”—Booklist
“Lewis’s watercolors provide the perfect complement to Golio’s
spare second-person prose. . . . The contrast between the bright
yellows of Johnson’s Texas birthplace and the star-filled vistas of
deep space parallel Johnson’s loss of vision as a young boy. . . .
Golio and Lewis trace the path of Johnson’s musical career: his
first cigar box guitar, singing in church, learning to play slide
with the edge of his pocket knife—all leading to the day Johnson
lays down his first recordings. Back matter reveals the challenges
of writing a biography of someone about whose early life little is
known, and also gives more detailed information about NASA’s Golden
Record and the Voyager 1 space probe.”—Horn Book
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