Tag Archives: musicians

352Z: Jazz Musicians Guide Boy Falsely Accused of Theft (Solved!)

I’m looking for a young adult book which I read in the late 80s/early 90s. It’s about a boy, who gets accused of stealing in school, big  jazz elements as there are some jazz musicians who help him (and references to many jazz greats), it’s about righting wrongs without having to tattle.
So : a bit more detail. He gets accused. He didn’t do it but knows his wealthy classmate did it.
In the early part of the book, he wears a t-shirt that says “Don’t cheer boys, the poor fellows are dying” which is a quote from John Woodward Phillip and his t-shirt is met with disapproval from the principal.
The kid is in deep trouble as everyone thinks he stole and he has to go see a judge in court, I think.
Finally, and most importantly, there are a number of jazz musicians who provide the protagonist kid with help and guidance.
The book is about jazz, doing the right thing and the reality of being a poor kid whom everyone assumes has stolen whereas the rich kid is not even a suspect cos why would he even need to steal?
It’s really well written but I can’t remember the name or author and would love to read it again.

345B: Musical Love Story from Harlequin Era

I'm looking for a book which may be Harlequin from late 1970s or early 1980s, about a young widow of a rock and roll band member who may have committed suicide. She falls for his band mate, who has long been in love with her, and it turns out, she has a hidden singing talent. I believe the setting is at a beach house, in Florida perhaps.

253F: Collected rock n roll tales

I read a book,12 or so years ago, which I found in my library (I think it had a white cover with black writing and was quite thick), which included articles/chapters about the history of popular culture. there are only two chapters that I can remember- one is about a journalist meeting Dylan in a cafe and Dylan arrives without any bodyguards as he has somehow managed to project a kind of defense around himself and the other chapter had a title along the lines of ‘and the pilgrims visited Kerouac’s grave’ about how ‘kids’ go on a pilgrimage to visit Lowel to see Jack’s grave

I can find no trace of this book anywhere and have been looking for a few years and as stumper has helped me before I place myself in your very capable hands again!
thank you