The Long and Winding Road

According to biblical doctrine, God first created people in the universe with a hierarchy of holy angels, with the highest order being identified as "cherubim" One of them, who was anointed and perhaps the most elitist cherub amongst them, knew he was created beautiful and perfect in his ways. Alternately, with pride and arrogance at the forefront, that same being became the supreme architect and advocate for sin, evil and untold suffering. Henceforth, the diabolical Satan was loosed upon the world. Tragically, from time to time, beauty is in the fabled beast. Handsome man and beautiful women may be pleasing to the eyes and their good looks may even grant them unearned favor but their inner nature is a virtual mystery. They might be evil incarnated. Meanwhile, the not-so attractive individuals are oftentimes ignored and generally devalued, all dependent upon the beholder. But possibly, the inner core of that select person could render him or her almost angelic-like. Life's long and winding road is lined with so-called beautiful and so-called unattractive people. However, through faith and God's grace (and not the naked eye), the lonely traveler may be able to distinguish which is which. And that'll make life's journey worthwhile. All too often, a young man fathers a child and assumes that that, in itself, validates his manhood. Initially, as a new dad, he might even feel that all is right with the new world, and his future looms bright. In many cases, it's a heartfelt euphoria that defies description. However, when the novelty wears off and reality returns, a rather lengthy journey commences. To the mother's credit and merit, she usually accompanies her offspring on life's long and winding road but, far too frequently, the once proud father falters or completely vanishes along the way. Arguably so, it's serious and impactuous tragedy for the mother, the absentee father, the child and sometimes, the world at l

Lionel Barry Harris (AKA" Duke") is a native of urban St. Louis, Missouri. After serving a three-year tour in the United States Army, he constantly pursued writing desires while, simultaneously, engaging in a whole gamut of diverse and interesting jobs. Along with managing a large janitorial service (at the age of 22), he was employed by the federal government, the St. Louis police department, both the Wagner and the Potter Electric companies and most satisfying and enduring, the St. Louis public schools at the high school level. In addition, Harris worked part-time in the G.E.D. educational program, served as department store salesman and drove a St. Louis country school bus for six years. Harris thoroughly enjoys interacting with people and savors many long-time friendship alliances. Married for twenty-eight years and the father of three, he is driven and sustained by an innate philosophy. Regardless of any children's deficient and harsh beginnings, he or she has the ability to turn the tide. As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King suggested, advocating that "Dark yesterdays can be transformed into bright tomorrow" Harris both embraces and endorses the parallel when it comes to childhood. His writing endeavors are representative of his long-held beliefs.

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Long Ago and Far Away: James Taylor - His Life

No writer has interviewed James Taylor and his family in greater depth over the decades than the late Timothy White, former editor-in-chief of Billboard, and author of the international best-seller Catch A Fire: The Life of Bob Marley.

This edition has been updated by his friend and former Rolling Stone comrade Mitch Glazer and includes an epilogue about the memorial concerts for Timothy that James Taylor helped organize.

 

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Interesting and well written
By J. Phillips
An interesting and well written book.

It starts with several chapters of family history, which I found slow going at first, but then came to see the author's point regarding family history and it's influence on the music.

The style of the writing seems to be a mix of impersonal description and fairly intimate information, which came across at times as dry. Nevertheless, interesting and worth a read.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
On second reading, much less satisfied...
By L Goodman-Malamuth
This book was completed shortly before author Timothy White died--much too young, at fifty--of a heart attack. I now wonder whether he'd really finished it, or whether this book was just sent into print anyway. There are a lot of loose ends in this book, which were explained to me in Sheila Weller's first-rate "Girls Like Us," a triple biography of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon. Weller and Simon say that Taylor family matriarch Trudy Taylor would not allow White to speak to JT's first wife, and consequently she came off as "neutral to negative" in this book. His strong-willed second wife, Kathryn Walker, was painted in glowing terms; they since have divorced and JT remarried.

I would suggest reading this book along with "Girls Like Us" for much more fully developed picture of an extremely complex man. Weller thrives on writing about relationships as well as musicianship. Her book has many details on JT's siblings, children, and fellow musicians. White tended to be more of a terse guy-guy writer. He loved to get the back story going back generations, as he did most successfully with the Wilson family members on his group bio of The Beach Boys, "The Nearest Faraway Place." So if you're not really interested in Taylor's seafarin' family, this book may not satisfy fully. Although you'll understand perfectly, after reading the tale of Dr. Isaac Taylor's lengthy missions in Antarctica that kept him away from his young family for many months at a time, how JT could come to write "The Frozen Man," in my opinion, his best song.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Great insight on JT and family
By Cyndy D. Bensema
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Areas of great interest to me were his family history as well as the memories of his childhoood and young adulthood, his parent's relationship,and his many friendships with people I had no idea he was friends with, etc. I also enjoyed the section where he shared personal insights and info about various songs and what they meant to him. Great book.

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