In this Episode of Jack Dappa Blues Radio, I speak with Children Book writer, and Musician Gary Golio about his current book “Dark Was the Night – Blind Willie Johnson’s Journey to the Stars” (Penguin/Nancy Paulsen, 2020). Gary has a catalog of books and shares with us the inspiration and message of his work. He also shares his reverence for Blind Willie Johnson, and how he looked to pay homage to him in “Dark Was The Night.”
In Dark Was the Night – Blind Willie Johnson’s Journey to the Stars, NY Times-bestselling author Gary Golio and Caldecott Honoree E.B. Lewis (Illustrator) tell an inspiring story of how the healing power of music can turn darkness into light. Moving prose and luminous illustrations detail the remarkable journey of a poor child from rural Texas who becomes one of the most accomplished slide guitarists of all time. Years after his death, Willie’s signature song, “Dark Was the Night,” is rocketed to the heavens on the Voyager I space probe’s Golden Record, a testament to the talent of a visionary blind man.
