Blind Willie McTell Event at Decatur CD this Friday

This Friday, we're excited to have noted author Michael Gray at Decatur CD. He'll be here at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9th, reading from and talking about his book, Hand Me My Travelin' Shoes: In Search of Blind Willie McTell. Here's what we wrote in the most recent Decatur CD Newsletter:

Partnering up with our friends and literary supervisors, A Cappella Books, we're proud to announce a reading at Decatur CD at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9th. Michael Gray, author of Hand Me My Travelin' Shoes: In Search of Blind Willie McTell, will be here in the store to read from and discuss his book. What's the tome like? Well, straight from the fingers of the author:

"More than a biography, the book, written by this Englishman (!), is also

- a unique outsider's history of Georgia, and the historical context that informed McTell's lifetime (1903-1959)
- a travelog taking in the key places in McTell's life and work: including Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Macon, Milledgeville, Statesboro and Thomson, plus the backroads in between, and
- the story of how the author tracked down the truth behind many of the mysteries of McTell's ancestors, life and death.

Not only is my book the first biography of this major figure in Georgia music history, but 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of his death, making this the ideal time to celebrate his life and work."

Not too shabby, right? Gray has spoken at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and penned previous books on the likes of Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa and Elvis Presley. Needless to say, the man is a rich compendium of rock 'n' roll lore. It will be a joy to have him. Mark your calendars!!