Gary Parker – författare

Jethro Tull was one of the truly innovative rock bands to emerge from the late 1960s. At their peak the idiosyncratic group, fronted by multi-instrumentalist Ian Anderson, resembled a troupe of roving English minstrels.Crafting a signature progressive rock sound that resisted easy categorization, they were often derided by critics as too British, too eccentric, too theatrical. Over the span of a decade, Tull released a string of sublime albums featuring intricate compositions in a wide range of musical styles, with little regard for the showbiz maxim "give the public what it wants."Focusing on the years 1968-1980, this history includes insider accounts based on exclusive interviews with key members and rare photographs from Ian Anderson's personal collection.

Jenna Newsome is praying for a miracle. When Mickey, a boy from her day care, is diagnosed with cancer, Jenna is determined to raise money for his costly treatments. But with Christmas around the corner, Mickey''s time is running out and the fund is far short.When Rem Lincoln, a former classmate of Jenna''s, returns to town to visit his father, they both unexpectedly find their lives intertwined in ways they couldn''t imagine. Having been hurt by love before and preoccupied with helping Mickey, Jenna becomes hesitant of her relationship with Rem. So as Christmas Eve draws near, she is surprised to discover that she''s now praying for two miracles . . . one for Mickey and another for love.This magical tale set in the hills of North Carolina will captivate fiction enthusiasts everywhere as they, too, discover that miracles sometimes come in unexpected packages.

Elvis Presley's clever manipulation of his numerous interests remains one of the music world's great marvels. His synthesis of country, rhythm & blues and gospel resulted in an inventive mixture of hair-raising rock & roll and balladry. This book focuses on the music of Presley's groundbreaking early years and includes a comprehensive analysis of every Presley recording session from the 1950s. Chapters show how Presley, with one foot in delta mud and the other in a country hoedown, teamed with Scotty Moore and Bill Black to fuse two distinctly American musical forms--country and blues--to form what would come to be known as "rockabilly." Also detailed is Presley's influence on music and how his contributions are still celebrated today.