Legends, Icons & Rebels: Music That Changed the World

by Robbie Robertson, Jim Guerinot, Sebastian Robertson

Part memoir, part tribute, and all great storytelling ...

Music industry veterans Robbie Robertson, Jim Guerinot, Jared Levine, and Sebastian Robertson invite young readers to share with them in celebrating twenty-seven musical legends. Short profiles chronicle personal stories and achievements of extraordinarily talented artists whose innovations changed the landscape of music for generations to come. Carefully compiled like any great playlist, the line-up features originators, rebels, and risk-takers across diverse genres. From Ray Charles to Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry to Bob Dylan, Robertson shares anecdotes about these artists and the influence they had on his own musical journey. Always respectful of their reader, the writers never shy away from speaking about the difficult challenges these recording artists faced and the very human foibles that sometimes led to their tragic end. Most of all, it's the authors' passion and insights into these personal stories of creativity and collaboration -- and the power of music to shine a light on injustice and foster change -- that will fascinate, enlighten, and inspire music fans of all ages.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Middle Grade, Unfinished, High School

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2013

About the author

Robbie Robertson was the guitarist and principal songwriter in The Band. He grew up in Toronto and on the Brantford Six Nations Reserve before heading to Arkansas to join Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks. He has produced many movie soundtracks for Martin Scorsese, including Raging Bull, and others, and continues to record as a solo artist. His most recent record, How to Become Clairvoyant, came out in 2011. His support of NA Native Music has been galvanizing. Robertson is coauthor of the children’s book Legends, Icons & Rebels, and author of the memoir Testimony, and the children's book, Hiawatha and the Peacemaker. He lives in Los Angeles and visits Canada often.

Reviews

[Harrison Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the great honor to review an advanced copy of this book. "Wow!!!" is truly an understatement. Not only do you get insight from a group of writers who have spent their lives in the music industry you also get a personalized playlist of 27 songs over 2 CD's that these men have picked.

Each musical artist in the book is brought to life with a two page spread that includes an in depth and unique look at their lives, a personal reflection from Robbie Robertson, beautiful illustrations and added fun facts and song choices.

This is a gem to cherish for a lifetime and share with kids and grand kids while at the same time remaining completely captivating to the adults. I am so grateful that a book like this has been created to preserve and expose these musical legends to a whole new generation.

Bob Dylan, Elvis, Aretha, Joni, The Beatles, Bob Marley, Curtis Mayfield, Patsy Cline... The list goes on and on and is so special.

Fantastic!

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good overview.

One of the inspirations was one of the authors noting that children respond more to good music than music intended for children, so giving them that early introduction can be helpful, and maybe they will be interested in more about those artists.

I think it accomplishes its purpose, and I have to agree that the selections made sense. Many of the artists have a personal connection to Robertson, but they are listed on merits, not favoritism.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a children’s non-fiction book about popular music, this is probably one of the best I’ve seen. The two-page artist biographies are written with great enthusiasm and really get into the meat of why they are great. I can see a curious ten or eleven year old really studying this book. The two CDs included are as good an introduction to the music as child-appropriateness and legal rights allow.

However, this book suffers a serious case of Boomer-opia. Even a great musician like Robbie Robertson can't see past the effulgent brilliance of his generation. Of the twenty-seven artists included, the most recent one is Joni Mitchell, whose first album came out in 1968. (That’s four-and-a-half decades ago, for those of you who stopped counting sometime in the ‘70s.) There is a variety of musical styles included here: In addition to Rock’n’roll, there’s good representation from Jazz, Country, Soul, and even Reggae. (Take one guess who the lone Reggae ambassador is) But non-boomer invented styles like Punk, Rap, or Electronica are entirely ignored. As evidence of this Boomer-opia, the entry for James Brown says “he had a greater impact on hip-hop than any other single artist.” How he had a greater impact on hip-hop than actual hip-hop artists goes unexplained.

It’s hard to see how a comprehensive book about popular music called “Legends, Icons, and Rebels” does not include legends, icons, and rebels like Madonna, Tupac, Nirvana, or even, of all people not to include, Michael effing Jackson.

Anyway, it is a good book. If you know a ten year old whose reading it, just do them a favor and let them know that music didn’t stop when Baby Boomers started taking out mortgages.

[Jan Witthuhn · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of us, whether young readers or not, are so very fortunate that musician-songwriter Robbie Robertson, his son Sebastian, Jim Guerinot, and Jared Levine joined forces to give us this wonderful book. The reader will be impressed with compelling content as well as the vibrant artwork. Even a quick browse through the pages will be enough for the reader to know this is a labor of love, from start to finish. I know young people will enjoy learning more about some of the most important characters whose work comprises the roots of rock music. There are important lessons to learn about these musicians and how they came to be recognized leaders in their field.

As a retired educator, I am always interested in fresh approaches to teaching and learning. I feel certain this book brings together the words, visuals, and sounds that young readers will find absolutely compelling. I look forward to hearing how this book will be used by teachers in schools as well as parents in homes to build higher levels of appreciation for the history of rock music.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the members of the legendary musical group The Band, Robbie Robertson, has collaborated with three other individuals deeply involved in the music industry, including his son, to identify 27 musical groundbreakers. Not only does Robertson share brief memories of his own connections to these talented artists and their music, but the book also includes a brief overview of their careers and what made them so important to the music world. Music fans won't be surprised to find folks such as Elvis Presley, Carole King--oh, my, yes, Tapestry from my high school days!--and Marvin Gaye here as well as groups such as the Beatles and the Beach Boys represented here, but there are some interesting and surprising choices, which made me wish that I knew what some of the discarded choices were. The oversize book is handsomely produced with gorgeous artwork throughout as well as 27 different tracks on two CDs featuring each artist rendering one of his/her songs. The music is simply irresistible, and it will be impossible for listeners to stop tapping their toes or fingers in time to what they're hearing. While I wish there had been more depth to each of the entries, and as with all lists of "the greats," there will always be arguments for and against the choices, I thoroughly enjoyed this volume. All of these men and women in their own ways truly are legends, icons, and rebels since they changed the face and sound of music in so many ways.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't rave enough about this book. From the thought behind it, to the writing, the artwork...the music included... Fantastic. Such a great team of authors and artists behind it, to boot. It may be marketed towards kids and youth, but it is definitely an education for many of us "grown ups" as well. Can't praise it enough.

Buy it for your little ones, for YOURSELF, for your children's classroom and/or library, for gifts...I can't wait for the additional volumes that I hope and pray are in the works. ;) For now I'll be pouring over the lush pages again and again, all while relishing in the well thought out compilation of accompanying tunes.

Thanks for this, gents - keep 'em comin'! :)

[JMRL]

Find it at JMRL: http://aries.jmrl.org/record=b1310714~S9

[Ben Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legends, Icons & Rebels: Music That Changed the World was written by Robbie Robertson, Jim Guerinot, Sebastian Robertson, and Jared Levine and pays homage to a collection of twenty-seven individuals and groups that has the course of music irrevocably.

Each musical artist or groups is brought to life with a two-page spread of their mini-biographies, a personal reflection from one of the authors, beautiful illustrations, fun facts and trivia tidbits, and song choice or selected discography. The twenty-seven musical legends, icons, and rebels chosen are diverse and have impact to the music industry and the world listening choices at large.

Included in this book is a wonderful two CD twenty-seven song compilation, one song for each person or group mentioned, which gives a taste of each and every musical legends, icons, and rebels mentioned in the book. It was a good choice of songs, some not what I would have chosen to represent the artist in question, but well-chosen nevertheless. It is after all impossible to please everyone all the time, but I think this compilation would please many.

All in all, Legends, Icons & Rebels: Music That Changed the World is a wonderfully written book and a magnificent collection of mini-biographies of twenty-seven of the most influential musical individuals and group around. It is a good read and reference book for anyone who wants to learn more about musical history. Furthermore, the bonus two CD twenty-seven song compilation was an added bonus.

[Sarah Shurm · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING! This is easily one of my top 5 favorite books! Written by the Band’s Robbie Robertson, his son, and two music industry executives, this beautiful tribute provides two-page biographies of 27 world-renowned artists, ranging from Chuck Berry to Bob Dylan. Each biography places each artist in the context of music history as well as details their rise to fame, accomplishments as well as struggles. Each artist featured in this outstanding book made crucial contributions to either the development of rock and roll or the Civil Rights Movement, or both. Each artist featured in this book is a celebrated and historically important individual. The first two pages of each musicians section of the book is a striking, album art-style painting that evokes that particular styles style and genre of music. Each illustration of the musicians is so beautifully done. Although fairly text heavy, the illustrations throughout this book could keep a young reader entertained for hours! As a future teacher, this is definitely a book that I will be including in my classroom library.

[Briony · Rating 2 out of 5]

A variety of different musical artists are shared in this vibrant book. A plethora of musical artists, from an assortment of different backgrounds, are featured. Their accomplishments, contributions, and legacies are all talked about. It also features fun facts about them. I like this book because it is easy to read. It has lots of color and is divided reasonably into sections with the different artists. I would not want to read this book out loud to my class, however I would enjoy having it in my classroom library. I think that many students would be interested in reading it. They can use it if they are doing a project on someone featured in the book or simply read it for their enjoyment. It would create some diversity in my classroom library.

[David Kirschner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat little (big) coffee table book about the history of popular music, almost exclusively in the US, and up until the late 60s/early 70s. As such, it's a nice history lesson about rock n roll, jazz, and Motown. My favorite part was listening along to some of the artists I hadn't heard much as I read their two-page spreads. The recommended playlists and 2 CDs included are great. I get that it's supposed to be an intro to great music, but there's so little information about each artist that I usually wanted to read more or elaboration of parts of their lives. I also don't understand why it stopped about 1970, as there has been a ton of timeless and influential music since then. I guess the guy writing it is old.

[Dana Van Aert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides a great overview of some of the greatest names in music from the early to mid 20th century. Designed to be a kids book, it is more of a middle school book. (grade 5-8) would be the most ideal. Although this could be in a highschool library. Beautiful illustrations done by highly skilled illustrators help show case each musician and band carefully explained by Robertson and company. Two cds are provided to give examples of each artist/band along with a list of songs worth checking out.

[Ery Caswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to read 1000 versions of this book by 1000 different people. preferably not 4 white presumably cis het dudes. what's the point of working with other people on a book like this if you're all going to write from a white bread perspective?

side note - the art is amazingly beautiful

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so pleased to see this book in the children's section! This is a great introduction to "music that -indeed- changed the world." Each generation seems to think their music are unique but doesn't realize it is built on the shoulders of other great amazing musicians. Included are two cds.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book with lots of facts and great illustrations. I love the music of many of the artists featured.

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very typical CDs Are Pretty good

[Connie Jefferies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed listening to the songs while learning trivial facts about each artist. Thank you for taking the time for putting this together

[Franceska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book and facts on many people who have made music great and paved the way for other musicians and artists.

[Linda Nielson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The authors, who are part of the music industry, wrote a brief 2 pg biography about 27 musicians who changed the music world. There were a lot of things I didn't know about these musicians and made me want to learn more about some of them.

[Nifemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know the people who shaped the music on the radio and gave it its general outline read this book. If you sometimes wonder who the best musicians were long before Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, Maroon five read this book. If you’ve ever thought about which past musicians were so good that they greatly impacted all musicians of today again read this book. Now you must be thinking what magnificent book holds all these answers well, Robbie Robertson, Jim Guerinot, Sebastian Robertson, and Jared Levine wrote Legends, Icons & Rebels: Music That Changed the World, and that is where all you answers lie.
The authors’ main objectives when writing this book were
To teach people about old musicians who the authors believe:
• were the past greats
• Greatly influenced music of today
• Impacted other musicians
I believe the authors did a good job proving that the musicians they chose were the best because in each chapter the authors main arguments included
• How many times their songs were sold : which is important because if your music sells over a billion records (like The Beatles) and is played on the radio often people must like it so you ought to be good
• Challenges each musician had to face: which I think is crucial because when someone is able to succeed even with the odds stacked against them it means they had to work hard and deserve their success Stevie wonder for example was pretty much born blind yet he still worked hard and became an amazing musician. If anybody else was born blind they likely wouldn’t even attempt to be an artist.
• Musician that took after and followed in their foot steps: “The best flattery is imitation,” if people don’t look up to you and try to copy what you are doing in my opinion and the authors, you aren’t that good. Take Aretha Franklin the book describes her as the queen of soul because “ she was the first female artist to create a fusion of gospel, pop, and soul. She greatly influenced artist of today like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Adele.
The authors were obviously a little bias because this book was a book of opinion, bit it was all based on true researched facts. I have tons of issues reading non -fiction books, but I found this book extremely interesting and engaging. The book is divided into 27 four page chapters, for 27 different musicians. The first two pages of each chapter show beautiful artwork of the musician or band and a little blurb from the main author. Robbie Robertson. The next two pages contain a laydown of the musician’s life, success, and music style. These pages also include quotes from artists of today and a playlist of each musician’s best hits.
I felt as though this book was towards music lovers of all ages, upcoming musicians, and people just looking for a story in non-fiction.
Overall I thought the book was fantastic!! It was very informative, interesting, beautiful, and it gave me a feeling of personally knowing and understanding each musician in it. I can only give it 5 stars but it truly deserved 6.

[Elissa Schaeffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If ever a children's book oozed cool, it is this one.

Meet some of music’s innovators, courtesy of some notable names in the music industry. The idea for this book began when Robbie Robertson’s son was working part time at a children’s recreation and learning center, and noticed that “they didn’t respond to the average, pandering children’s music near as much as they did to really good songs performed by great artists.” So Robertson and his fellow music aficionado friends assembled these artists who they refer to as “the original risk takers, extremely unique, and tremendously influential to future generations.” Inside we find four pages devoted to individuals who have changed music of their day and left a lasting impression on music that continues to this day. Two pages are an illustration of the artist with a brief quote from Roberston. The following two pages are a description of the artist--their roots, what sets them apart, their successes, and even their failings, sprinkled with some great quotes from a variety of notable musicians and a recommended playlist to dig deeper into their music. Also of note is the accompanying double CD set with a track from each of the 27 artists profiled, all of which are kid-friendly choices that help to illustrate those same qualities that are brought up in the pages.

You can feel the love and passion and respect that the authors felt when putting this together. It is a stunning array of musicians and a wonderful introduction to these ground-breaking artists. While the size and scope is tremendous, it's all fitting for what it represents. The inclusion of the CDs was a stroke of genius and I'm glad that the authors never gave up in spite of licensing and other issues. To read about what a particular artist did or how they innovated is one thing. To read about it and then listen to a sample of it is another and it adds a completely new dimension to how wonderful this book is.

Highly recommended, ages 10+.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This large coffee-table sized book comes with 2 CDs of music included inside the back cover. There are 27 songs, one from each of the artists covered in this volume. Most of the stories of the artists can be read in the time that their song is playing, just keep the remote handy so that you can pause once in a while. I often play the music for an artist when I am reading a book about him. When I was reading the biography of the early Beatles, Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years , I had to purchase a lot of music that was mentioned, just so that I had a real feel for the book. This book does that for you. You get to connect an artist with his work. What a concept!

I didn't know that this book is targeted to young readers when I read it. I didn't feel like the authors were talking down to me. They use a lot of fun graphic and font elements in the thumbnail biographies of the artists. Looking back, I can see that it would work for middle school students. If you had younger children, you could listen to the music and read this book with them also. This would give them a feel for the music that you listened to and enjoyed. Maybe you could find an artist or two that you both liked.

I really enjoyed listening and reading this book. The authors knew what they were talking about. It was just a fun couple of hours. I give this book 5 Stars out of 5 and a Big Thumbs Up! If you like music of the Twentieth Century, and aren't too hung-up on just one genre, then I think you will enjoy this too. If you have kids that are getting into rock, rap or pop, and you want to connect with them musically, give this a shot. Who knows, it might bring you closer.

I borrowed this book from my local library.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book shares 27 short profiles of legendary artists and their music that changed the world, including my life. It's a great reference book, like an encyclopedia for young musicians. You'll take a look at a timeline of mega gifted artists who shared strong cultural messages of the day, while others communicated from their own personal challenges. You can easily pick up the book and read anywhere about the cutting edge of performance from the sounds of rock and roll, jazz greats, folk icons and country stars. I can totally relate to the music here, from great grooves to unforgettable lyrics.

All in all, I was blown away by the awesome contents because I learned so much. The breath-taking illustrations are stunning and the awesome sounds on the two cds had me on my feet singing and dancing. I have such a fondness for smooth vocals from Ella, Billie and Frank. Great piano work by Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Carole King.

You'll love the book and wish you had another copy to give to a friend. It's that great... I highly recommend for the young and adults, too. If you're passionate about music and it's history, get the book. Thanks for the wonderful memories, guys. As an educator, I proudly share it in my studio with all my students, their parents and my grandchildren. Appreciative of your great work here. What a gift!

[Bethany]

Robertson, R., Guerinot, J., Robertson, S., & Levine, J. (2013). Legends, icons, & rebels: Music that changed the world. Plattsburg, NY: Tundra Books.

Citation by Bethany Voight
Type of Reference: Biographical Reference
Call Number: REF 782.42164 ROB

Cost: one volume, 128 pp. $29. Includes 27 selected songs.

Accuracy: Four authors with experience in the music business have met some of these iconic musicians. Others have greatly influence them. The authors use a variety of primary and secondary sources in writing the biographies.

Comprehensiveness: Each of the 27 artists featured have a double-spread giving a brief biography as well as an insight look from one particular author. Vibrant artwork complement each artists.

Ease of Use: A Table of contents is included that is organized and straightforward. Each features a thumbnail portrait in the table of contents as well. A forward by Robbie Robertson is included as he is one of the authors.

Currency: Several reviews give it high praise from an insider’s perspective. It was specifically written for 8-12 year old students. It was published October 2013 from one of the oldest publishing houses in Canada.

Review source: Review source: Jones, C. (2013). Fall youth preview, 2013. Booklist, 110(1), 127-143.

[Mary BookHounds · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

This book is truly a work of love and an easy to understand introduction of popular music for children of all ages. The authors put together a thoughtful compilation of 27 artists that contributed to the history of rock and roll. I am amazed that the authors were able to get permission to included these great songs that are on two companion CDs. Sure, there are other musicians I would have love to see included but for the time period covered, this is an amazingly complete list. When my son was younger, I used to play an oldies station and he named his first dog after Fats Domino's Blueberry Hill which was shortened to Blue.

I wish I would have had something as concise as this book to share with him when he was younger. There are brief snippets about each musician and explanations about why they were important to the development of popular music. These little stories also don't gloss over their downfalls either, something missing in a lot of books for kids. It should spark a lot of discussions and the CDs are great to play in the car, which can create another teaching event. Overall, this is something that would make a wonderful gift for a new parent as well as those hard to buy for kids that think they know it all.

[Darcia Helle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is informative, beautiful, and fun! I know it's being marketed toward grade school kids as a brief education on the people who were vital to the musical world, but it truly is ideal for music lovers of all ages. My collection of books on music would not be complete without this on the shelf.

While the information on each artist is not extensive, we're given the career highlights showing the importance of their contributions. There are also fun facts about each artist that give the bios a personal feel. The artwork is spectacular and the colors vibrant. I also have to mention the cover. I am not a fan of the dust jackets on all hardcovers these days. I just think they cheapen the look of hardcovers, and I miss the days when the design was on the actual cover. This book has a dust cover, but the exact same artwork is on the cover itself. The quality is exceptional.

Of course, we're also given two CDs full of the music discussed in the book. This is the perfect addition, giving life to all the music on the pages.

[Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a music listening lover. I can't play an instrument. I can't sing a tune. But I know good music when I hear it, and so does this author.

I loved reading this book. Visually it's exciting, colorful, evocative and each "chapter" that's based on a particular artist has artwork that represents the icons of the music world. Each "chapter" is a brief bio of who the artist was, how they influenced music history, and their lasting impression.

Most of the artists featured are some of my favorites. They are constants on my iTunes and Pandora stations. They're people that have gotten me through some dark periods. They were there for me in my most joyous of moments. I too, have been influenced by these icons. What I really like about this book though, is the people that I haven't known. The author has provided information of artists that I'm not currently familiar with, but now after reading this book I will begin to explore them. As I said before, I'm a music listening lover. Give me good music and my ears will listen.

I recommend this book to all music lovers, young and old.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age-research: 4th-middle school
Age-interest level: middle school-high school

What a fantastic, yet unfortunately overlooked, nonfiction collection of 20 great and influential musical artists. The layout is fantastic and very eye-cacthing with pulled out quick facts, a playlist of top songs, and quotes of artists inspired by these game-changers. The bios are two pages but full of great facts, dates, names, and info. And the illustrations of each artists reflect their style and are just gorgeous! Each artist receives 4 pages, so no one receives special treatment. And the authors themselves were influential in music.

Overall, a phenomenally well put-together collection of legends, icons, and rebels. Thank you!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A trip down memory lane, this book will appeal to those interested in music history and the important artists of differing genres. 27 artist profiles are included. Each profile makes good use of the large space with varying text sizes and beautiful drawings of music artists. And each artists has their own playlist on their respective pages! The timeline in the back is helpful, so teens can compare which artists overlapped with others. There are also brief biographies of the authors and illustrators, as well as notes about the two CDs included with the book.

My one main concern with the book is its size. It’s an oversized coffee table book that would make it difficult to tote around.