Review of Heart and Harmony: Poetic Reflections on Legendary Singers
Posted: 18 Jul 2024, 13:34
[Following is a volunteer review of "Heart and Harmony: Poetic Reflections on Legendary Singers" by Archie Luper.]
Heart and Harmony: Poetic Reflections on Legendary Singers by Archie Luper is a multifaceted book that celebrates the voices of singers who define music. The book dives into the lives, legacies, and lasting impacts of 29 male and 21 female singers whose voices inspire listeners worldwide.
Each chapter shows the name of the singer at birth, their city of birth, their birthdate, their age, their years active, the age when they first performed, their most popular song, their best-selling album, their genres, the instruments they used, the labels they signed with, their website, their occupations, their spouse (or spouses), children, a quote, interesting facts, a Wikipedia link, and a poem by Luper (some chapters include the religion of the singer). In addition, each poem varies from 10 to 11 quatrain (four-line) stanzas.
Moreover, what makes this book unique is the poems that Luper adds at the end of each chapter to honor each singer. Each poem, titled “Heart and Harmony,” gives poetry that tells music fans how the singer started their career, what manager helped them, and their struggles and triumphs. Lastly, at the end of the fifty chapters, the author includes a bonus section that will be rewarding for music lovers.
I like the organization and consistency of this book. It contains minimal grammatical errors, and it is well-edited. I also like its informative and educational aspect through its ‘Interesting Facts’ and ‘Heart and Harmony’ sections. For example, I learned about Frank Sinatra’s difficult birth and Marvin Gaye’s tragic death (read the book to find the details of these two events and many more).
In addition, I noted 2 to 3 singers who would make my top 50 list but were not in Luper’s book. However, I cannot dispute his selections because they are great. I also appreciate that I learned about artists whose names I did not know but whose songs I have heard hundreds of times in movies or shows. Lastly, from learning new words, like “troubadour,” to learning about “27 Club,” this book keeps you engaged from start to finish.
I have no dislike or criticism that would justify deducting a star. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to all music fans. I also recommend it as a fun book for music fans to discuss and debate the top 50 list, the most popular song, and the famous quote selected.
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Heart and Harmony: Poetic Reflections on Legendary Singers
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Heart and Harmony: Poetic Reflections on Legendary Singers by Archie Luper is a multifaceted book that celebrates the voices of singers who define music. The book dives into the lives, legacies, and lasting impacts of 29 male and 21 female singers whose voices inspire listeners worldwide.
Each chapter shows the name of the singer at birth, their city of birth, their birthdate, their age, their years active, the age when they first performed, their most popular song, their best-selling album, their genres, the instruments they used, the labels they signed with, their website, their occupations, their spouse (or spouses), children, a quote, interesting facts, a Wikipedia link, and a poem by Luper (some chapters include the religion of the singer). In addition, each poem varies from 10 to 11 quatrain (four-line) stanzas.
Moreover, what makes this book unique is the poems that Luper adds at the end of each chapter to honor each singer. Each poem, titled “Heart and Harmony,” gives poetry that tells music fans how the singer started their career, what manager helped them, and their struggles and triumphs. Lastly, at the end of the fifty chapters, the author includes a bonus section that will be rewarding for music lovers.
I like the organization and consistency of this book. It contains minimal grammatical errors, and it is well-edited. I also like its informative and educational aspect through its ‘Interesting Facts’ and ‘Heart and Harmony’ sections. For example, I learned about Frank Sinatra’s difficult birth and Marvin Gaye’s tragic death (read the book to find the details of these two events and many more).
In addition, I noted 2 to 3 singers who would make my top 50 list but were not in Luper’s book. However, I cannot dispute his selections because they are great. I also appreciate that I learned about artists whose names I did not know but whose songs I have heard hundreds of times in movies or shows. Lastly, from learning new words, like “troubadour,” to learning about “27 Club,” this book keeps you engaged from start to finish.
I have no dislike or criticism that would justify deducting a star. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to all music fans. I also recommend it as a fun book for music fans to discuss and debate the top 50 list, the most popular song, and the famous quote selected.
******
Heart and Harmony: Poetic Reflections on Legendary Singers
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon