DUKE ELLINGTON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, WASHINGTON D.C. PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL TO RECEIVE 100% OF PROCEEDS
(Washington, DC) In the late 1960's against a backdrop of civil unrest, race riots and the Vietnam war, a young white college student from the suburbs fell in love with the uniquely African American music emanating from the hipster jazz clubs of New York. Soon, she was a valued insider in that world, fighting to bring the music of jazz pianist Billy Taylor and the hugely influential Duke Ellington to audiences no matter what the color.
Along the way, Renatta DeBlase faced prejudice from both white and black audiences, music executives and concert industry insiders all the while developing close working relationships with music legends including Ellington and Taylor.
Now, for the first time, DeBlase pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of these musical masters and those turbulent times in With Stars In My Eyes. Released in May 2011, With Stars In My Eyes is available as both an ebook and an intimate audio book, narrated with warmth by the author herself, now a retired veteran of both the music and publishing industry based in Washington, DC.
(Washington, DC) In the late 1960's against a backdrop of civil unrest, race riots and the Vietnam war, a young white college student from the suburbs fell in love with the uniquely African American music emanating from the hipster jazz clubs of New York. Soon, she was a valued insider in that world, fighting to bring the music of jazz pianist Billy Taylor and the hugely influential Duke Ellington to audiences no matter what the color.
Along the way, Renatta DeBlase faced prejudice from both white and black audiences, music executives and concert industry insiders all the while developing close working relationships with music legends including Ellington and Taylor.
Now, for the first time, DeBlase pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of these musical masters and those turbulent times in With Stars In My Eyes. Released in May 2011, With Stars In My Eyes is available as both an ebook and an intimate audio book, narrated with warmth by the author herself, now a retired veteran of both the music and publishing industry based in Washington, DC.
