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Tango 1-1: 9th Infantry Division LRPs in the Vietnam Delta
by Jim Thayer“An absorbing account of special forces operations by Airborne Rangers of the Long Range Patrol in the Vietnam Delta . . . a great story.” —FiretrenchLRPs were all volunteers. They were in the spine-tingling, brain-twisting, nerve-wracking business of Long Range Patrolling. They varied in age from 18 to 30. These men operated in precision movements, like walking through a jungle quietly and being able to tell whether a man or an animal is moving through the brush without seeing the cause of movement. They could sit in an ambush for hours without moving a muscle except to ease the safety off the automatic weapon in their hand at the first sign of trouble. These men were good because they had to be to survive.Called LRPs for short, they were despised, respected, admired and sometimes thought to be a little short on brains by those who watched from the sidelines as a team started out on another mission to seek out the enemy. They were men who can take a baby or small child in their arms and make them stop crying. They shared their last smoke, last ration of food, last canteen of water. They were kind in some ways, deadly in others. They were men who believed in their country, freedom, and fellow men. They were a new kind of soldier in a new type of warfare.LRPs stand out in a crowd of soldiers. It’s not just their tiger fatigues but the way they walk, talk and stand. They were proud warriors because they were members of the Long Range Patrol.
Amar y ser amado / To Love and Be Loved
by Jim ToweyDe manos de un consejero de confianza y devoto amigo de la Madre Teresa, tenemos un extraordinario recuento de primera mano de la milagrosa mujer detrás de la santa. Incluye imágenes hasta ahora desconocidas de la Madre Teresa. La Madre Teresa fue una de las mujeres más admiradas del siglo XX, y su recuerdo sigue inspirando labores caritativas por todo el mundo. Ella creía que la más grande necesidad de un ser humano era amar y ser amado. En 1948 fundó los Misioneros de la Caridad para trabajar directamente con los más pobres de Calcuta. A consecuencia del esfuerzo de una mujer adentrándose por los barrios bajos de Entally, los Misioneros de la Caridad crecieron hasta convertirse en una organización que operaba comedores, clínicas, hospicios y albergues en 139 países, sin ningún costo para el gobierno ni para quienes atendía. En 2016 se convirtió en Santa Teresa de Calcuta. El autor Jim Towey fue abogado y funcionario de alto rango en el Congreso de Estados Unidos en la década de 1980, hasta que un breve encuentro con la Madre Teresa iluminó el vacío de su vida. Se ofreció como voluntario en uno de sus comedores y usó sus habilidades legales y sus conexiones políticas para ayudar a los Misioneros de la Caridad. Cuando la Madre Teresa sugirió que cubriera algunos turnos en su hospicio para enfermos de SIDA, Towey descubrió el alcance de su propia vocación. Pronto dejó su trabajo y sus posesiones, y se convirtió en voluntario de tiempo completo para la Madre Teresa. Viajó frecuentemente con ella, acordando sus reuniones con políticos y manejando muchos de sus asuntos legales. Amar y ser amado es un recuento directo de los últimos años de la Madre Teresa y el primer libro en detallar su relación con los asuntos mundanos. La vemos navegar con gracia las oportunidades y los retos del liderazgo, los peligros de lafama, lo mismo que las humillaciones y los triunfos de envejecer. También la observamos disfrutando un helado de chocolate, haciendo bromas sobre las minifaldas y diciéndole al presidente de Estados Unidos que se equivoca. Por encima de todo, vemos su extraordinaria devoción a Dios y los más pobres de Sus hijos. La Madre Teresa le enseñó a Towey a orar más, a ser menos egoísta, más humilde, menos frívolo, a amar más a Dios y menos a sí mismo. Sus enseñanzas están aquí para todos.
To Love and Be Loved: A Personal Portrait of Mother Teresa
by Jim ToweyFrom a trusted advisor and devoted friend of Mother Teresa comes a &“powerful&” (The Washington Free Beacon) firsthand account of the miraculous woman behind the saint and a book that is &“rich in reflection on contemporary sanctity&” (George Weigel).Mother Teresa was one of the most admired women of the 20th century, and her memory continues to inspire charitable work around the world. She believed the greatest need of a human being is to love and be loved. In 1948, she founded the Missionaries of Charity to work directly with the very poorest of Calcutta. From the efforts of one woman entering the slums of Entally, the Missionaries of Charity grew into an organization operating soup kitchens, health clinics, hospices, and shelters in 139 countries, at no cost to any government or to those who served. In 2016, she became Saint Teresa of Calcutta. Author Jim Towey had been a high-flying Congressional staffer and lawyer in the 1980s until a brief meeting with Mother Teresa illuminated the emptiness of his life. He began volunteering at one of her soup kitchens and using his legal skills and political connections to help the Missionaries of Charity. When Mother Teresa suggested he take up shifts at her AIDS hospice, Towey realized he was all in. Soon, he gave up his job and possessions and became a full-time volunteer for Mother Teresa. He traveled with her frequently, arranged her meetings with politicians, and handled many of her legal affairs. To Love and Be Loved is an &“inspiring and joyful&” (Kirkus Reviews) firsthand account of Mother Teresa&’s last years, and the first book ever to detail her dealings with worldly matters. We see her gracefully navigate the opportunities and challenges to leadership, the perils of celebrity, and the humiliations and triumphs of aging. We also catch her indulging in chocolate ice cream, making jokes about mini-skirts, and telling the President of the United States he&’s wrong. Above all, we see her extraordinary devotion to God and to the very poorest of His children. Mother Teresa taught Towey to be more prayerful, less selfish, more humble, less worldly, move in love with God, and less in love with himself. Her lessons are here for all to share.
Junior Seau: The Life and Death of a Football Icon (Superstar Ser. #Vol. 7)
by Jim TrotterThis intimate biography of the NFL icon by a veteran sports reporter sheds light on his singular life and the controversy surrounding his tragic death. Tiaina Baul &“Junior&” Seau is widely considered to be among the best linebackers in NFL history, a ten-time All-Pro, a twelve-time Pro Bowl selection, and a first-ballot entrant into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But in 2012, just two years after retiring from football, Junior Seau committed suicide. Studies of his brain by the National Institutes of Health concluded that Seau suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease often caused by repeated hits to the head. Seau&’s suicide spawned numerous investigations into the brains of deceased NFL players, and many were found to have CTE. Drawing on exclusive access to Seau&’s family as well as Seau&’s never-before-seen diaries and letters, Jim Trotter paints a moving and revealing portrait of a larger-than-life sports star whose achievements on the field were rivaled by his personal demons.&“Few people knew Junior Seau like Jim Trotter . . . he took a sports book and artistically crafted it into a lyrical narrative about dreams, love, and, ultimately, heart-wrenching loss.&”—Lars Anderson, author of The All Americans
Cousins Maine Lobster: How One Food Truck Became a Multi-Million-Dollar Business
by Jim Tselikis Sabin Lomac"Required Reading,"The New York PostFrom the co-founders of the smash hit Cousins Maine Lobster food trucks comes a business book revealing to new entrepreneurs how the authors built their brand through integrity and authenticity.In early 2012, Jim Tselikis visited L.A. and met up with his cousin Sabin Lomac. Over a few drinks they waxed nostalgic about their childhood in Maine, surrounded by family, often elbow deep in delicious lobster while gathered around the picnic table. From this strong memory was born the very first Cousins Maine Lobster food truck. Smart, authentic marketing, and sustainable, delicious ingredients helped turn that one food truck into an overnight sensation. Then, in just three years, they went from a single food truck to a nationally-franchised legion of trucks, an online delivery service, and a brick-and-mortar restaurant, grossing over $15 million dollars in sales a year. Start-up fever has taken hold of America, and there are hundreds of books to teach readers how to become an entrepreneur; this is the first book to answer the question: What’s next? At each step, Jim and Sabin were faced with hard decisions—opening each new food truck carefully instead of rushing to meet the demand; turning down a six-figure franchise offer because it came from someone who didn’t support their vision; turning down Shark Tank (twice) until they could insist on participating only if Barbara Corcoran was one of the Sharks. Now Jim and Sabin teach readers how they, too, can reach the next level of success in their own businesses, without having to compromise themselves.
Beggars of Life: A Hobo Autobiography
by Jim TullyA bestseller in 1924, this vivid piece of outlaw history has inexplicably faded from the public consciousness. Jim Tully takes us across the seamy underbelly of pre-WWI America on freight trains, and inside hobo jungles and brothels while narrowly averting railroad bulls (cops) and wardens of order. Written with unflinching honesty and insight,Beggars of Life follows Tully from his first ride at age thirteen, choosing life on the road over a bdeadening job, through his teenage years of learning the ropes of the rails and -living one meal to the next. Tully’s direct, confrontational approach helped shape the hard-boiled school of writing, and later immeasurably influenced the noir genre. Beggars of Life was the first in Tully’s five-volume memoir, dubbed the "Underworld Edition," recalling his transformation from road-kid to novelist, journalist, Hollywood columnist, chain maker, boxer, circus handyman, and tree surgeon. Jim Tully(1891-1947) was a best-selling novelist and popular Hollywood journalist in the 1920s and ’30s. Known as "Cincinnati Red" during his years as a road-kid, he counted prizefighter and publicist of Charlie Chaplin among his many jobs. He is considered (with Dashiel Hammett) one of the inventors of the hard-boiled style of American writing. In Oakland, California on March 24, 2015 a fire destroyed the AK Press warehouse along with several other businesses. Please consider visiting the AK Press website to learn more about the fundraiser to help them and their neighbors.
Shanty Irish
by John Sayles Mark Dawidziak Jim Tully Paul J. BauerA hard-edged mixture of hilarious and heartbreaking memories, Tully's autobiographical 1928 book digs deep into the soil of his native Ohio to show what life was like in the late nineteenth century for a poor Irish-American family. Within the covers of this acclaimed work, we meet the author's father, also named Jim Tully, "a gorilla built" ditchdigger whose stooped shoulders carry "the inherited burdens of a thousand dead Irish peasants. " We meet his mother, Biddy, a "woman of imagination" who "had all the moods of April. " We meet his uncle, ruthless John Lawler, who was tried, convicted, and sentenced to fifteen years in the Ohio penitentiary for stealing horses. And we meet his grandfather, Old Hughie Tully, "born with the gift of words"--"capable of turning death into an Irish wake and pouring liquor down the throat of the corpse. " Old Hughie, "never without a tale to tell," emerges as the most vividly drawn character in a book packed with unforgettable characters. Tully's most deeply personal book, Shanty Irish had a profound impact on readers and other leading American writers of the 1920s. Mencken said, “In Shanty Irish ... he has gone far beyond any of his work of the past.” Indeed, a book soaked in mud and whiskey, Shanty Irish is at turns brutal, sentimental, ironic, lyrical, humorous, and tragic."
The Progression of the American Presidency
by Jim TwomblyThe contemporary presidency, and the nation it governs, is more dependent on the individual in office than ever before. The Progression of the American Presidency examines in detail the institution of the American presidency from the selection process, to the president's individual responsibilities, to his interactions with other actors in the political arena. Twombly argues that regardless of how well suited a particular individual may be for a specific time in office, he or she will leave an indelible imprint on the office for those who follow. Each successful president changed the institution in which he served by expanding its scope and power and raising the bar of public (and historical) expectations. Both scholarly and conversational, The Progression of the American Presidency is essential reading for anyone interested in the evolving state of the Oval Office.
John Paul II
by Robin Moore Ray Flynn Jim VrabelUnlike any other pope, John Paul II has reached out, creating dialogue or creating uproar, but always striving to unite the human community. Drawing on years of personal interaction with the Pope, and on his unique understanding of the intersection of religion and politics, Flynn, with co-authors Robin Moore and Jim Vrabel, shows how John Paul II changed the papacy, perhaps forever.
I Do!: A Marriage Workbook for Engaged Couples
by Jim WalkupMake your bond stronger than ever on your way to the altarPlanning can be the key to a happy and satisfying marriage. The in-depth, thought-provoking exercises in this marriage workbook will help you and your partner grow your love and solidify your partnership as you prepare to walk down the aisle.Dig deep into your relationship over the course of 7 chapters—each focusing on a different part of married life. Gain insight into each other, and discover ways to feel closer before you finally say, "I do!"A look into the future—Prepare for a lifetime together by exploring your feelings on communication, money, intimacy, children, beliefs, work, and family and friends.In-depth exercises—Learn more about your partner through various exercises, including writing prompts, true/false questionnaires, worksheets, discussion topics, and more.Expert guidance—Author Jim Walkup is a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than 40 years of experience working with couples from all backgrounds who want to make their marriage last.Set the stage for a happy and successful marriage with this premarital counseling workbook for couples.
Fear and Loving in South Minneapolis
by Jim WalshA veteran Twin Cities journalist and raconteur summons the life of the city after reporting and recording its stories for more than thirty years Two or three times a week, as a columnist, hustling freelance writer, and genuinely curious reporter, Jim Walsh would hang out in a coffee shop or a bar, or wander in a club or on a side street, and invariably a story would unfold—one more chapter in the story of Minneapolis, the city that was his home and his beat for more than thirty years. Fear and Loving in South Minneapolis tells that story, collecting the encounters and adventures and lives that make a city hum—and make South Minneapolis what it is. Here is a man who drives around Minneapolis in a van that sports a neon sign and keeps a running tally of the soldiers killed in Iraq. Here is another, haunted by the woman he fell in love with, and lost, many years ago at the Minnesota Music Café on St. Paul&’s East Side. Here are strangers on a cold night on the corner of Forty-sixth and Nicollet, finding comfort in each other&’s company in the wake of the shootings in Paris. And here are Walsh&’s own memories catching up with him: the woman who joined him in representing &“junior royalty&” for the Minneapolis Aquatennial when they were both seven years old; the lost friend, Soul Asylum&’s Karl Mueller, recalled while sitting on his memorial bench at Walsh&’s go-to refuge, the Rose Gardens near Lake Harriet. These everyday interactions, ordinary people, and quiet moments in Jim Walsh&’s writing create an extraordinary picture of a city&’s life. James Joyce famously bragged that if Dublin were ever destroyed, it could be rebuilt in its entirety from his written works. The Minneapolis that Jim Walsh maps is more a matter of heart, of urban life built on human connections, than of streets intersecting and literal landmarks: it is that lived city, documented in measures large and small, that his book brings so vividly to mind, drafting a blueprint of a community&’s soul and inviting a reader into the boundless, enduring experience of Fear and Loving in South Minneapolis.
The Phoenix Sound: A History Of Twang And Rockabilly Music In Arizona
by Jim WestIn 1956, a fresh-faced Sanford Clark recorded "The Fool" with guitarist Al Casey at Floyd Ramsey's small Phoenix recording studio. Written by local deejay Lee Hazlewood, the song became a top-ten Billboard hit nationwide and launched a new trailblazing era of Arizona music. Their success paved the way for other Phoenix acts and producers to chart national hits. Grammy-winning audio engineer Jack Miller started out in Ramsey's studio, and Hazlewood produced rock hall of famer Duane Eddy's debut album, Have "Twangy" Guitar, Will Travel. These early artists pioneered a sound that inspired Arizona's best musicians from Waylon Jennings and Buck Owens to Stevie Nicks and Linda Ronstadt. Join former radio and broadcast personality Jim West for the story and soundtrack to the early days of music in the Valley of the Sun.
George Best: pocket GIANTS
by Jim WhiteOn Sunday 5 October 2014, the 75,000 strong crowd at Old Trafford for Manchester United’s game against Everton joined in with an extended version of a chant which echoed around the stadium. ‘We all live in a Georgie Best world,’ it went. Eleven years after his death, forty years after he walked out of the club for the last time as a player, Best remains a Giant – extraordinary given that his star shone for such a brief time. He was at the top of the game for no more than half a dozen years. How did he do it?
Frederick Douglass: Abolitionist, Author, Editor, and Diplomat
by Jim WhitingFrederick Douglass never knew the identity of his father, though he was probably a white slave owner. His mother was a slave. Frederick was taken from her soon after his birth. He only saw her a few times before she died. It seemed likely that Frederick would live out his life as a slave. But from an early age, he was determined to become a free man. He escaped to the North when he was about 20. A few years later, he discovered that he was an outstanding public speaker. For the rest of his life, Frederick would courageously speak out about the issues that affected his fellow blacks. Sometimes his actions placed him in great danger. During his lifetime no other African American did as much for blacks as Frederick Douglass. Even today his memory continues to inspire many people to work for civil rights and racial justice.
The Life and Times of Aristotle
by Jim WhitingHighlights the life and philosophies of the great scientist who tutored Alexander the Great.
The Life and Times of Plato
by Jim WhitingExamines Plato a great philosopher who developed important theories about government, ethics, love, beauty and even reality.
The Maryland Colony: Lord Baltimore (Building America)
by Jim WhitingEnglish nobleman George Calvert wanted to establish a colony in the New World not one like his first colony, Newfoundland, which he found to be too cold. Instead he wanted land in the temperate Chesapeake Bay area, where his colonists could grow tobacco. King Charles I granted his wish. Named for Henrietta Mary, Charles s wife, the new colony of Maryland was established in 1634. Also known as Lord Baltimore, Calvert was a Catholic at a time when Protestants controlled the English government. He wanted Maryland to be a place where Catholics and anyone else could worship in freedom. As the British crown was passed through its heirs, favoring Protestants, then Catholics, then Protestants again, Maryland felt the ripples of unrest on its side of the Atlantic. Follow the story of how Maryland came to be a colony and how it fought for its borders with Virginia and Pennsylvania. Find out how in the end, it pulled together with those and the other colonies first to repel the encroaching French, and then to shrug off the tyranny of England.
W.E.B. Du Bois: Civil Rights Activist, Author, Historian
by Jim WhitingW..E.B. Du Bois's mother came from a long line of free blacks living in the North. His great-grandfather was a white plantation owner whose ancestors came from France. Long before the start of the Civil Rights movement, W.E.B. Du Bois worked tirelessly for black people in this country. He was a brilliant student and became the first black man to receive a Ph.D. degree from Harvard University, and later taught at several black colleges. He realized that teaching wasn't enough. For decades, he wrote, gave speeches, formed organizations, and worked hard toward the cause of social justice. W.E.B. became controversial in the last years of his life. He took political positions that many Americans--both black and white--didn't approve of. But he wouldn't back down or change what he believed in. He felt so strongly about his beliefs that in his old age he moved to the African nation of Ghana, whose people loved and admired him.
A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond
by Jim WhittakerJim Whittaker's achievement on Everest and his many successes before and after are the natural outcome of a life driven by a passion for outdoor adventure combined with strong leadership qualities and a commitment to making a difference. In A Life on the Edge, readers will discover a true hero-someone who tells his story not to boast or preach, but to share his love of the environment and outdoor adventure and to inspire others to seek challenges in their own lives.
Nazi Princess: Hitler, Lord Rothermere and Princess Stephanie von Hohenlohe
by Jim WilsonNazi Princess
We Are All the Same: A Story of a Boy's Courage and a Mother's Love
by Jim WootenThe extraordinary story of the little South African boy whose bravery and fierce determination to make a difference despite being born with AIDS has made him the human symbol of the world's fight against the disease, told by the veteran American journalist whose life he changed. Five million more people contracted HIV last year alone. We've all seen the statistics, and they numb us; on some level our minds shut down to a catastrophe of this scope. As with other such immense human tragedies in the past, it can take the story of one special child's life to make us open our minds and our hearts. While the majority of all AIDS cases occur in Africa, a South African boy named Nkosi Johnson did not become "an icon of the struggle for life," in Nelson Mandela's words, because he was representative but because he was so very remarkable. Everyone who met Nkosi Johnson was struck by his blinding life force, his powerful intelligence and drive, his determination to make something of his short life. By the time of his death, the work he had done in his eleven years on earth was such that The New York Times ran his obituary on the front page, as did many other papers, and tributes appeared on the evening news broadcasts of every major network. Nkosi Johnson did not live to tell his own story, but one writer whose life he changed has taken up the work of telling it for him. Luckily for the world that writer is Jim Wooten. In his hands, We Are All the Same is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit, even as it bears witness to the scope of the tragedy that is unfolding in Africa and around the world, cutting down millions of boys and girls like Nkosi Johnson before they can reach their promise. Written with the brevity and power of a parable, We Are All the Same is a book that is meant to be read by all of us, of all ages and walks of life. Its beginning and ending are terribly sad, but in the middle is the extraordinarily inspiring story of a very unlucky little boy who said, Never mind. I'm going to make my life matter. And he did.
The Real James Bond: A True Story of Identity Theft, Avian Intrigue, & Ian Fleming
by Jim WrightFirst book to research the intriguing backstory of the real James Bond, a Philadelphia ornithologist An adventure story for armchair travelers, fans of 007, and birdwatchersDiscover how naturalists named new species after Bond, leveraging his fame to build awareness
Picky: AS SEEN ON TOP JAW: the must-read memoir of a fussy child's journey to professional gourmet
by Jimi Famurewa'A culinary journey like no other - sharp, funny, and full of heart.' - JAMIE OLIVER'A rich and nourishing story of food and identity.' - ANGELA HUI'Exquisite, evocative writing from the heart, soul and very witty pen of Jimi Famurewa.' - ANDI OLIVER'Wonderful . . . This is a moving, charming but also wonderfully astute exploration of food today, across continents, and from the home table to the school canteen and the high-end restaurant. It's also a beautiful reminder that our appetites, like us, can transform beyond what we ever thought possible.' - RUBY TANDOH'A feast of a book packed to the brim with honesty, bravery, nostalgia and humour . . . Truly affecting and brilliantly written.' - CAROLINE EDEN'Shows us that food is never just food - it's memory, identity, and home. Jimi's journey from picky eater to food critic is a powerful reminder that what we eat can reconnect us to who we are, where we've come from, and who we're becoming.' - ASMA KHAN'Vivid, funny and deliciously frank, I tore through this like an after-school bag of Monster Munch.' - FELICITY CLOAKE---------Food is never just food. It is freighted with our upbringings, our heritage and our sense of self.Jimi Famurewa spends his days hunting out the very best food London has to offer and writing about it. But as a child, he hid gobbets of mash in his pocket at school, refused all vegetables and looked forward to Happy Meals in the back of a steamed-up car after late night football practice. He spent weekends in crowded flats at parties, watching his family preserve their Nigerian roots through jollof and fried plantain, as well as grow new shoots through American delights like Aunt Jemima's pancake syrup, furtively hidden in suitcases. But what happens when he grows up, stretching beyond the joyful chaos of his mother's kitchen and into the uncharted territory, unfamiliar flavours and overlapping identities of the adult world?With glorious dollops of nostalgia, Picky is as much a hymn to the gleam of the golden arches and the soft shine of worn formica as it is to opulent marble and tweezered micro herbs.
Picky: AS SEEN ON TOP JAW: the must-read memoir of a fussy child's journey to professional gourmet
by Jimi Famurewa'A culinary journey like no other - sharp, funny, and full of heart.' - JAMIE OLIVER'A rich and nourishing story of food and identity.' - ANGELA HUI'Exquisite, evocative writing from the heart, soul and very witty pen of Jimi Famurewa.' - ANDI OLIVER'Wonderful . . . This is a moving, charming but also wonderfully astute exploration of food today, across continents, and from the home table to the school canteen and the high-end restaurant. It's also a beautiful reminder that our appetites, like us, can transform beyond what we ever thought possible.' - RUBY TANDOH'A feast of a book packed to the brim with honesty, bravery, nostalgia and humour . . . Truly affecting and brilliantly written.' - CAROLINE EDEN'Shows us that food is never just food - it's memory, identity, and home. Jimi's journey from picky eater to food critic is a powerful reminder that what we eat can reconnect us to who we are, where we've come from, and who we're becoming.' - ASMA KHAN'Vivid, funny and deliciously frank, I tore through this like an after-school bag of Monster Munch.' - FELICITY CLOAKE---------Food is never just food. It is freighted with our upbringings, our heritage and our sense of self.Jimi Famurewa spends his days hunting out the very best food London has to offer and writing about it. But as a child, he hid gobbets of mash in his pocket at school, refused all vegetables and looked forward to Happy Meals in the back of a steamed-up car after late night football practice. He spent weekends in crowded flats at parties, watching his family preserve their Nigerian roots through jollof and fried plantain, as well as grow new shoots through American delights like Aunt Jemima's pancake syrup, furtively hidden in suitcases. But what happens when he grows up, stretching beyond the joyful chaos of his mother's kitchen and into the uncharted territory, unfamiliar flavours and overlapping identities of the adult world?With glorious dollops of nostalgia, Picky is as much a hymn to the gleam of the golden arches and the soft shine of worn formica as it is to opulent marble and tweezered micro herbs.
The Amazing Jimmi Mayes: Sideman to the Stars (American Made Music Series)
by Jimmi MayesAssociation of Recorded Sound Collections Awards for ExcellenceBest Research in Recorded Blues, Hip-Hop, Rhythm & Blues – Certificate of Merit (2014)For more than fifty years, Chicago drummer Jimmi Mayes served as a sideman behind some of the greatest musicians and musical groups in history. He began his career playing the blues in the juke joints of Mississippi, sharpened his trade under the mentorship of drum legends Sam Lay and Fred Below in the steamy nightclubs of south Chicago, and hit it big in New York City behind such music legends as Tommy Hunt from the Flamingos, Marvin Gaye, and James Brown.Mayes played his drums behind blues giants Little Walter Jacobs, Jimmy Reed, Robert Junior Lockwood, Earl Hooker, Junior Wells, Pinetop Perkins, and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. He lived for a while with Motown sensation Martha Reeves and her family and traveled with the Shirelles and the Motown Review. Jimi Hendrix was one of Mayes's best friends, and they traveled together with Joey Dee and the Starliters in the mid-1960s.Mayes lived through racial segregation, the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the integration of rock bands, and the emergence of Motown. He personally experienced the sexual and moral revolutions of the sixties, was robbed of his musical royalties, and survived a musical drought. He's been a pimp and a drug pusher--and lived to tell the tale when so many musicians have not. This sideman to the stars witnessed music history from the best seat in the house--behind the drum set.