Gary Golio

A visual artist, musician, and psychotherapist, Gary Golio is the author of the New York Times-bestselling JIMI: Sounds Like A Rainbow – A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix, recipient of a 2011 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award. His other books include When Bob Met Woody: The Story of the Young Bob Dylan; Spirit Seeker: The Musical Journey of John Coltrane; Bird & Diz - Two Friends Create Bebop; Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song; Carlos Santana - Sound of the Heart, Song of the World; SMILE - How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry); Dark Was the Night - Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars; Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge; and Everywhere Beauty is Harlem (Calkins Creek/Astra).

Each of these books highlights an artist’s roots and influences, promoting the idea that artists are models of persistence and commitment, embodying values of imagination, hopefulness, and self-acceptance.

• NY Times-Bestselling Author
• 2011 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award
• Finalist — Golden Kite Nonfiction Text for Younger Readers Award
• Desmond-Fish Library Lifetime Achievement Award
• AALBC (African-American Literature Book Club) Bestselling Author

Golio’s books have been chosen for:

• ALA Notables
• Junior Library Guild selections
• Numerous year-end “Best” lists from: Kirkus, Booklist, Horn Book, CCBC, Bank Street College, New York Public Library, and School Library Journal.

Learn more at Gary Golio’s official website.