Roberta Leslie Gourse (January 1, 1939 – December 23, 2004) was an American writer and biographer who was a prolific writer on jazz music and musicians.[1] In 1991, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers awarded her the Deems Taylor Award for a series of seven articles in the magazine JazzTimes focusing on female jazz musicians.[2]

Gourse was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, to Harva Zelda Fisher Gourse and Harry Andrew Gourse.[3] She attended Columbia University. Shortly after her graduation in 1960, Gourse published her first novel, With Gall and Honey, a romantic novel set in Israel. Gourse wrote several books for children, and many biographies of notable jazz musicians.[1]

Gourse died as a result of respiratory problems in 2004.[1]

Bibliography

  • The Best Guided Walking Tours to New York City, (1989)
  • Student Guide to New York (1984)
  • Pocahontas: Young Peacemaker (1996, for children)
  • Gloria Estefan: Pop Sensation (1999)
  • Native American Courtship and Marriage
  • Jim Henson: Young Puppeteer (2000)
On Jazz
  • Madame Jazz: Contemporary Women Instrumentalists (1995)
  • Louis' Children – American Jazz Singers (1984)
  • Straight No Chaser: The Life and Genius of Thelonious Monk (1998)
  • Wynton Marsalis: Skain's Domain (2000)
  • Sassy – The Life of Sarah Vaughan (1992)
  • Carmen McRae – Miss Jazz (2001)
  • Dizzy Gillespie and the Birth of Bebop (1995)
  • Art Blakey – Jazz Messenger (2001)
  • Aretha Franklin – Lady Soul
  • Unforgettable – Life and Mystique of Nat King Cole (2000)
  • Everyday: The Story of Joe Williams (1985)
  • Billie Holiday: The Tragedy and Triumph of Lady Day (1995)
  • The Billie Holiday Companion (1997)
  • Lady Be Good (1995)
  • Mahalia Jackson: Queen of Gospel Songs (1996)
  • The Golden Age of Jazz in Paris and other stories about Jazz (2001)
Books on jazz for children and young people
  • Sophisticated Ladies – The Great Women of Jazz (2007)
  • Striders of Bebop and Beyond- The Art of Jazz Piano (1997)
  • Blowing on the Changes- The Art of Jazz Horn Players (1998)
  • Deep Down in Music: The Art of the Great Jazz Bassists (1998) (with a foreword by Ron Carter)
  • Fancy Fretwork- The Great Jazz Guitarists
  • Swingers and Crooners- The Art of Jazz Singing (1997)
  • Time Keepers – The Great Jazz Drummers (2000)

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Leslie Gourse, 65, Biographer of Jazz Artists". The New York Times. January 5, 2005.
  2. ↑ "Leslie Gourse Dies at 65; Biographer of Jazz Greats". The Washington Post. December 31, 2004. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Zelda Fisher Gourse". Find A Grave. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
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