98% Funky Stuff: My Life in Music

Gr 7–10—If readers do not have the same respect for Parker's name that the musician had for his idol, Ray Charles, that is likely to have changed by the time they finish reading this biography of a music prodigy and one of the best saxophone players in the music business. Drawn to the piano as a toddler, Parker astonished his parents with an innate ability that they eagerly fostered throughout his childhood, although a spur-of-the-moment impression from a parade led the young impresario to change to the saxophone, and he never looked back. A combination of having good luck with mentors, being driven to perform, and being determined to find his own sound put Parker in a position where he was hired as a seasoned performer with his brother by James Brown while still a college student in 1964. He blossomed as an artist during this period, before being drafted by the army. The narrative deftly handles the firsthand view of civil-rights issues and the historical events pertinent to the author, making this a relevant book for school libraries. Where the text shines is in the author's handling of the musicians with whom he played. No foibles and difficulties such as drugs, Brown's legal difficulties, and band squabbles are overlooked, and the text still manages to include a solid picture of the life of an artist and the evolution of funk music.—Betsy Fraser, Calgary Public Library, Canada