Leslie Gourse facts for kids
Roberta Leslie Gourse (born January 1, 1939 – died December 23, 2004) was an American writer. She wrote many books and articles, especially about jazz music and the amazing musicians who played it. She was even given a special award, the Deems Taylor Award, in 1991 for writing articles in JazzTimes magazine that focused on women jazz musicians.
About Roberta Gourse
Roberta Gourse was born in Fall River, Massachusetts. She went to Columbia University to study. After she graduated in 1960, she published her very first novel, With Gall and Honey. This was a romantic story set in Israel.
Roberta Gourse loved to write. She wrote several books especially for children. She also wrote many biographies, which are books about the lives of real people, focusing on famous jazz musicians. She passed away in 2004.
Her Books
Roberta Gourse wrote many different kinds of books. Here are some of her works:
- The Best Guided Walking Tours to New York City (1989)
- Student Guide to New York (1984)
- Pocahontas: Young Peacemaker (1996) - This book was written for children.
- Gloria Estefan: Pop Sensation (1999)
- Native American Courtship and Marriage
- Jim Henson: Young Puppeteer (2000)
Books About Jazz
Roberta Gourse was well-known for her books about jazz music and its stars:
- Madame Jazz: Contemporary Women Instrumentalists (1995)
- Louis' Children – American Jazz Singers (1984)
- Straight No Chaser: The Life and Genius of Thelonious Monk (1998)
- Wynton Marsalis: Skain's Domain (2000)
- Sassy – The Life of Sarah Vaughan (1992)
- Carmen McRae – Miss Jazz (2001)
- Dizzy Gillespie and the Birth of Bebop (1995)
- Art Blakey – Jazz Messenger (2001)
- Aretha Franklin – Lady Soul
- Unforgettable – Life and Mystique of Nat King Cole (2000)
- Everyday: The Story of Joe Williams (1985)
- Billie Holiday: The Tragedy and Triumph of Lady Day (1995)
- The Billie Holiday Companion (1997)
- Lady Be Good (1995)
- Mahalia Jackson: Queen of Gospel Songs (1996)
- The Golden Age of Jazz in Paris and other stories about Jazz (2001)
Jazz Books for Young Readers
She also wrote a special series of books about jazz for children and young people:
- Sophisticated Ladies – The Great Women of Jazz (2007)
- Striders of Bebop and Beyond- The Art of Jazz Piano (1997)
- Blowing on the Changes- The Art of Jazz Horn Players (1998)
- Deep Down in Music: The Art of the Great Jazz Bassists (1998) (with a foreword by Ron Carter)
- Fancy Fretwork- The Great Jazz Guitarists
- Swingers and Crooners- The Art of Jazz Singing (1997)
- Time Keepers – The Great Jazz Drummers (2000)
