Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris

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Synopsis
The emotional, epic story of James &“Cornbread&” Harris—a self-proclaimed &“blessed dude&” and one of Minneapolis&’s most influential musicians From the heart of the Minnesota blues comes the story of James &“Cornbread&” Harris Jr., the songwriter, pianist, and consummate bluesman whose seventy years making music helped to shape the Minneapolis Sound. &“I am a blessed dude,&” Cornbread tells Andrea Swensson, taking us along on his musical journey from a first &“gig&” entertaining his fellow soldiers during World War II to his subsequent years playing music for audiences across Minnesota. Following Cornbread&’s extraordinary life story, Deeper Blues is a unique history of Minnesota music that evolves into a heartfelt tale of reconciliation and forgiveness, all to the tune of the legendary musician&’s signature sound. Cornbread&’s career started in the 1950s, when he played with the Augie Garcia Quintet and cowrote their hit &“Hi Ho Silver.&” A tireless entertainer, he has been performing live ever since, influencing an entire generation of musicians credited with putting Minneapolis on the map in the 1980s—including his long-estranged son, Grammy-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James &“Jimmy Jam&” Harris III. Going beyond the music, Deeper Blues turns toward family, atonement, and peace when Cornbread reunites with Jimmy Jam after a five-decade separation and they perform together on stage. Through conversations with Cornbread, Jimmy Jam, and many others, Swensson reveals a story of perseverance and unfailing grace, a firsthand account of making music in the face of racism and segregation, and a hard-won acceptance of the personal sacrifices that are often required when dedicating one&’s life to making music. As the man himself says, &“All of my hardships ended up to be blessings.&” A rich mix of present-day anecdotes and historical vignettes, animated by voices from Cornbread&’s life and the Twin Cities music scene, underscored by the bluesman&’s original lyrics of heartache and hope, and featuring never-before-seen photographs of Cornbread and Jimmy Jam, Deeper Blues tells a singular story—one imprinted on the history, heart, and soul of the Minneapolis Sound.
Copyright:
2024

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
Book Size:
200 Pages
ISBN-13:
9781452971704
Related ISBNs:
9781452971698, 9781517915025
Publisher:
University of Minnesota Press
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
Andrea Swensson.
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
Nonfiction, Biographies and Memoirs, Social Studies, Music
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

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