From Almeda to Zilphia

<p><strong><em>From Almeda To Zilphia: Arkansas Women Who Transformed American Popular Song</em> profiles artists who've influenced music around the world in ways we're still discovering. Despite their collective cultural impact these women's stories have too often been overlooked forgotten or never told.</strong></p><p>Part history part art and part music the book features a wide cross-section of inspirational creatives across the decades. With surprises like Maya Angelou's side career as a calypso singer and Carrie Cash who recognized that her son Johnny had the gift <em>From Almeda To Zilphia </em>covers a wide variety of musical styles: </p><p>> Gospel-Rosetta Tharpe</p><p>> Opera-Marjorie Lawrence</p><p>> Blues-Sippie Wallace</p><p>> Folk Ballads-Almeda Riddle</p><p>> Dance-Pop -Beth Ditto</p><p>> Classical-Florence Price and</p><p>> Country-K.T. Oslin</p><p>Working from often hard-to-find historic photographs vivid portraits by renowned artist Katherine Strause of the women profiled make plain the strength and artistry of these cultural pioneers. With a thoughtful forward by professor Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch and a heart-wrenching afterword by acclaimed country music songwriter Erin Enderlin <em>From Almeda To Zilphia</em> is written by musician and award-winning journalist Stephen Koch writer and host of the syndicated public radio program <em>Arkansongs</em>.</p>