Roberta Leslie Gourse (January 1, 1939 – December 23, 2004) was an American writer and biographer who was a prolific writer on jazz music and musicians.[1] In 1991, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers awarded her the Deems Taylor Award for a series of seven articles in the magazine JazzTimes focusing on female jazz musicians.[2]
Leslie Gourse | |
|---|---|
 in 1996 | |
| Born | January 1, 1939 Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | December 23, 2004 (aged 65) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Parents | Harva Zelda Fisher Gourse Harry Andrew Gourse |
Gourse was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, to Harva Zelda Fisher Gourse and Harry Andrew Gourse.[3] She attended Columbia University. Shortly after her graduation in 1960, Gourse published her first novel, With Gall and Honey, a romantic novel set in Israel. Gourse wrote several books for children, and many biographies of notable jazz musicians.[1]
Gourse died as a result of respiratory problems in 2004.[1]
Bibliography
edit- The Best Guided Walking Tours to New York City, (1989)
- Student Guide to New York (1984)
- Pocahontas: Young Peacemaker (1996, for children)
- Gloria Estefan: Pop Sensation (1999)
- Native American Courtship and Marriage
- Jim Henson: Young Puppeteer (2000)
- On Jazz
- Madame Jazz: Contemporary Women Instrumentalists (1995)
- Louis' Children – American Jazz Singers (1984)
- Straight No Chaser: The Life and Genius of Thelonious Monk (1998)
- Wynton Marsalis: Skain's Domain (2000)
- Sassy – The Life of Sarah Vaughan (1992)
- Carmen McRae – Miss Jazz (2001)
- Dizzy Gillespie and the Birth of Bebop (1995)
- Art Blakey – Jazz Messenger (2001)
- Aretha Franklin – Lady Soul
- Unforgettable – Life and Mystique of Nat King Cole (2000)
- Everyday: The Story of Joe Williams (1985)
- Billie Holiday: The Tragedy and Triumph of Lady Day (1995)
- The Billie Holiday Companion (1997)
- Lady Be Good (1995)
- Mahalia Jackson: Queen of Gospel Songs (1996)
- The Golden Age of Jazz in Paris and other stories about Jazz (2001)
- Books on jazz for children and young people
- Sophisticated Ladies – The Great Women of Jazz (2007)
- Striders of Bebop and Beyond- The Art of Jazz Piano (1997)
- Blowing on the Changes- The Art of Jazz Horn Players (1998)
- Deep Down in Music: The Art of the Great Jazz Bassists (1998) (with a foreword by Ron Carter)
- Fancy Fretwork- The Great Jazz Guitarists
- Swingers and Crooners- The Art of Jazz Singing (1997)
- Time Keepers – The Great Jazz Drummers (2000)
References
edit
- ^ a b c "Leslie Gourse, 65, Biographer of Jazz Artists". The New York Times. January 5, 2005.
- ^ "Leslie Gourse Dies at 65; Biographer of Jazz Greats". The Washington Post. December 31, 2004. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
- ^ "Zelda Fisher Gourse". Find A Grave. Retrieved February 23, 2015.