Blind Willie Johnson

Black Blues Legend Blind Willie Johnson Blasts Into Outer Space In New Picture Book About His Soul-stirring Song

Ask Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, tale of how the healing power of music Lucinda Williams and Jack White to can turn darkness into light. name the slide-guitar player they most Born in 1897, young Willie shone admire, and they’ll all say Blind Willie as he sang and played a cigar box guitar Johnson. What those musicians may not made by his father. But his bright know is that one of his songs found its childhood fell dark when he lost both his way to the depths of outer space. In Dark mother and his sight. Fortunately, his Was the Night – Blind Willie Johnson’s love of music led him back into the light. Journey to the Stars, NY Times-bestsellHe began singing in churches and later ing author Gary Golio and Caldecott brought his unique blend of gospel-blues Honoree E. B. Lewis weave a magical to street corners all over Texas. Willie’s 34 Rock and Blues International • October 2020 powerful voice, joined to the wail of his slide guitar, moved even more people when he cut some records and his songs were played on the radio. Yet by the time he died, he and his music were largely forgotten. Then, in 1977, Willie’s haunting song, “Dark Was the Night,” was launched into space on the Voyager I space probe’s famous Golden Record. There, along with the many sounds and sights of planet Earth, is the soul-stirring song of a blind man, telling us not to be afraid of the dark, and reminding us that we are never really alone.

“An ode to a too-little-discussed musician and an excellent introduction to his amazing musical talent.” Kirkus

“An inspiring story of one man’s commitment to lifting up himself and those around him with his music. An American treasure who shouldn’t go unsung.” Booklist

“Lewis’s expressive watercolors depict the subject’s humble country beginnings as well as the joy that he felt when he sang and played” “A beautiful, timely tribute to a little-known musician and space venture.” School Library Journal

Gary Golio is the author of the NY Times bestseller JIMI: Sounds Like a Rainbow – A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix, winner of a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award; Bird & Diz and Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song, both ALA Notables; and other books about legendary artists. A writer and musician, Golio has been featured on NPR’s “Weekend Edition”, CBS-TV’s “Sunday Morning News,” and on radio stations nationwide. He lives in the Hudson Valley with his wife, children’s book author Susanna Reich.

E.B. Lewis is a fine artist and the acclaimed illustrator of over 70 books, among them Coming On Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson (Caldecott Honor Award), Talkin’ About Bessie by Nikki Grimes (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award), and The Secret World of Walter Anderson by Hester Bass (Orbis Pictus Award). He is also the recipient of the NY Times Best Illustrated Book Award, Kirkus’ Best Illustrated Book Award, and four additional Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards. Lewis teaches at the University of Arts in Philadelphia, and lives in Folsom, New Jersey.