A Music Journey Remembered

Brad Evans has been an entertainer for over 50 years. Brad and his group, the Encores made a unique sound that crossed racial, ethnic and cultural lines. Starting with Brad's humble beginnings growing up in a small coal mining town in Pitt Gas, PA to rolling with the famous "Rat Pack" as a musician, sideman. Brad lived in an adult Disneyland a wold where partying, booze, super fine ladies and big money was the norm in the raucous 50,s, 60's and 70's. He crossed paths with the mob and rubbed shoulders and became friends with some of America's biggest stars like Elvis, The Rat Pack, Nat King Cole, Frankie Laine, Phyllis Diller and many other celebrities of the day. He was popular, in demand and was asked to perform with with headliners. Brad and his groups on-stage presence made him something of a Vegas nightclub staple. Brad also has a number of colorful relationships. This book is an interesting tale of a musicians life of ambition, heartache -- and a life with few regrets.

Brad Evans has been an entertainer for over 50 years. Brad and his group, "The Encores," made a unique sound that crossed all racial, ethnic and cultural lines. Starting with Brad's humble beginnings growing up in a small coal mining town in Pitt Gas, Pennsylvania, to rolling with the famous "Rat Pack", as a musician, sideman and studio musician. Brad lived in an adult Disneyland, a world where partying, booze, superfine ladies and big money was the norm in the raucous 50s, 60s and 70s. He crossed paths with the mob an rubbed shoulders and became friends with some of America's biggest stars like: Elvis, The Rat Pack, Nat King Cole and daughter Natalie, Frankie Laine, Phyliss Diller, Burt Reynolds and many other celebrities of the day. He was popular, in demand, an was asked to perform with headliners. Brad was a shy and polite person who accepted the entertainment business in stride. Brad and his groups on-stage presence made him somewhat of a Vegas nightclub staple. Brad became involved with numerous women during his music career and had many colorful relationships. This book is an interesting tale of a musicians life of ambition, heartaches - -and a life with few regrets.

Brad Evans has been an entertainer for over 50 years. Brad and his group, "The Encores" made a unique sound that crosssed racial, ethnic and cultural lines. Starting with Brad's humble beginnings growing up in small coal mining town in Pitt Gas, Pennsylvania, to rolling with the famous "Rat Pack", as a musician sideman. Brad lived in an adult Disneyland, a world where partying, booze, super fine ladies and big money was the norm in the raucous 50s, 60s and 70s. He crossed paths with the mob and rubbed shoulders and became friends with some of America's biggest stars like Elvis, The Rat Pack, Nat King Cole and daughter Natalie, Frankie Laine, Phyllis Diller, Burt Reynolds and many other celebrities of the day. He was popular, in demand, and was asked to perform with headliners. Brad was a shy and polite person who accepted the entertainment business in stride. Brad, and his groups on stage presence made him somewhat of a Vegas night club staple. A perennial bachelor and involved with numerous women during his music career, Brad had many colorful relationships. This book is an interesting tzle of a musicians life of ambition, heartaches --- and a life with few regrets.

Brad Evans has been an entertainer for over 50 years. Brad and his group, the "Encores" made a unique sound that crossed racial, ethnic and cultural lines. Starting with Brad's humble beginnings growing up in a small coal mining town in Pitt Gas, Pennsylvania to rolling with the famous "Rat Pack", as a musician sideman, Brad lived in an adult Disneyland, a world where partying, booze, super fine ladies and big money was the norm in the raucous 50s, 60s and 70s. He crossed paths with the mob and rubbed shoulders and became friends with some of America's biggest stars like, Elvis, The Rat Pack, Nat King Cole, Frankie Laine, Phyllis Diller and many other celebrities of the day. He was popular, in demand, and was asked to perform with headliners. Brad was a shy and polite person who accepted the entertainment business in stride. Brad and his groups on- stage presence made him somewhat of a Vegas nightclub staple. A perennial bachelor and involved with numerous women during his music career, Brad had many colorful relationships. This book is an interesting tale of a musicians life of ambition, heartaches-- and a life with few regrets.

Scott Verbout turned to the music of his favorite singers to get through an especially difficult time while coping with depression and autism in 2020. In this book, he reflects on his love of the music that has provided such a comfort to him over the years. The singers and songs he highlights have helped him overcome feelings of hopelessness and desperation. So often, his favorite singers have found the exact words to provide him with comfort when he needed it most. They include Natalie Merchant, Sarah McLachlan, Melissa Etheridge, and Patty Griffin. He also recounts face-to-face meetings he has had with some of his favorite singers. Through recollections and lyrics, he provides a look at how important music has been to him over three decades. Join the author as he celebrates the healing power of music and how it has gotten him through dark times, including a global pandemic.

From Grammy-winning musical icon and legendary bassist Victor L. Wooten comes an inspiring parable of music, life, and the difference between playing all the right notes…and feeling them. The Music Lesson is the story of a struggling young musician who wanted music to be his life, and who wanted his life to be great. Then, from nowhere it seemed, a teacher arrived. Part musical genius, part philosopher, part eccentric wise man, the teacher would guide the young musician on a spiritual journey, and teach him that the gifts we get from music mirror those from life, and every movement, phrase, and chord has its own meaning...All you have to do is find the song inside. “The best book on music (and its connection to the mystic laws of life) that I've ever read. I learned so much on every level.”—Multiple Grammy Award–winning saxophonist Michael Brecker

Author Sonja Boon’s heritage is complicated. Although she has lived in Canada for more than thirty years, she was born in the UK to a Surinamese mother and a Dutch father. Boon’s family history spans five continents: Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, South America, and North America. Despite her complex and multi-layered background, she has often omitted her full heritage, replying “I’m Dutch-Canadian” to anyone who asks about her identity. An invitation to join a family tree project inspired a journey to the heart of the histories that have shaped her identity. It was an opportunity to answer the two questions that have dogged her over the years: Where does she belong? And who does she belong to? Boon’s archival research—in Suriname, the Netherlands, the UK, and Canada—brings her opportunities to reflect on the possibilities and limitations of the archives themselves, the tangliness of oceanic migration, histories, the meaning of legacy, music, love, freedom, memory, ruin, and imagination. Ultimately, she reflected on the relevance of our past to understanding our present. Deeply informed by archival research and current scholarship, but written as a reflective and intimate memoir, What the Oceans Remember addresses current issues in migration, identity, belonging, and history through an interrogation of race, ethnicity, gender, archives and memory. More importantly, it addresses the relevance of our past to understanding our present. It shows the multiplicity of identities and origins that can shape the way we understand our histories and our own selves.