Legends, Icons, and Rebels: Music that changed the world by RobbieRobertson

Iconic musician Robbie Robertson (member of The Band) collaborated with some other people, Jim Guerinot, Jared Levine, and Sebastian Robertson to create this children's non-fiction book about some of the great musicians of the past who have helped to shape modern-day rock and roll.

The book covers a brief summary of 27 artists, including: Stevie Wonder, Chuck Barry, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchel, Patsy Cline, Bob Dylan, and many more. It covers a brief summary of their careers, with a few lesser known facts thrown in, and then on two accompanying CDs, featuring one of their songs.

This is a brilliant book, and I hope it becomes popular. I'm not a huge musical aficionado myself, but I have a broad range of tastes that span both genre and year, but I would say that I'm in a minority of people who regularly listen 'classic' rock and roll or RnB. But these artists in this book, and many more, produce really great music that has not only shaped an age and the music we listen to today, but that is really great to listen to.

That's not to say that today's music is not good. There are several current artists and songs that are good, but to better appreciate their work, you must have a better understanding of the history they draw from and have risen out of. Once you understand where they're coming from, you can understand what they're doing differently, and how they are maybe revolutionary in their own way. The biggest thing of all however is that the music of the past is just really great! Sometimes we're tempted to stop listening to the music of the past because newer music comes out, but the music from the past is still really great. In fact, some of the music from the past is arguably better than some of the modern music on the radio. Some might argue that the... music of lesser quality... or today exists because not many people listen to the better, older music, and have nothing else to compare it to. But that's getting a bit hipster and kind of arrogant, so we won't push too hard in that direction.

This is a coffee table book for kids, so even kids who aren't 'readers' per say will be able to enjoy it, along with the CDs. I really applaud this effort. Definitely look for it, and let it be the doorway to introducing the kids in your life to some really great songs!