Performing this moving history from surviving members of the iconic singing group The Blind Boys of Alabama, Phil Morris captures the joys, hardships, and pathos woven into their 80-plus years of performing Black gospel music. You can hear the reverence Morris feels as he describes the pivotal periods of American history the evolving members of the group somehow survived. Their journey, skillfully organized by music journalist Lauterbach, is captivating. The Blind Boys' origins can be found in the early a cappella collaborations of several teenagers in Alabama, scrappy kids who loved harmonizing and sharing the spiritual and cultural truths of mid-twentieth-century America. From street singing to the Grammy Awards and presidential performances, these storylines and their historical context will be hard for listeners to pause.
Pub Date: March 19, 2024
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668637548
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A different kind of rock star memoir, rooted in astrology and conveyed with gentle grace and intelligence.
Orzabal relates his history as a rock star with a conscience. Orzabal is a member of Tears for Fears, the 1980s pop duo that continues to record and perform. Their early ubiquitous hits remain staples on streaming services and movie soundtracks. Orzabal relates his unique path to stardom and shares the difficult story of his life of artistry and tragedy in a weathered British lilt. While his artistic compatriots may have enjoyed the usual spoils of pop stardom, Orzabal sought primal scream therapy. Orzabal's performance here is engaging and therapeutic.
A different kind of rock star memoir, rooted in astrology and conveyed with gentle grace and intelligence.Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 18 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063455153
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 27, 2026
Moving from deeply despairing to wildly successful, only West could do his own poignant story justice.
Fans of voice actor West may have difficulty reconciling his disturbing childhood with the numerous joyful characters he’s best known for. In this revealing, painfully honest memoir, West recalls life before, during, and after animated series The Ren & Stimpy Show and Futurama, in which he voiced multiple characters. Occasionally reverting to his comic voices to illustrate a point or an anecdote, West details his experiences with his brutal, psychotic father; his early efforts to disassociate himself from beatings and abuse; and the profoundly positive effects TV comics like Sid Caesar and Danny Kaye had on him. Late-in-life diagnoses of ADHD and OCD also gave West some comfort.
Moving from deeply despairing to wildly successful, only West could do his own poignant story justice.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 1 min
DD ISBN: 9798898850111
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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