# Dark Was the Night: Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars - Hardcover

by **Gary Golio** (Author), **E. B. Lewis** (Illustrator)

**The poignant story of Blind Willie Johnson--the legendary Texas musician whose song "Dark Was the Night" was included on the _Voyager I_ space probe's Golden Record**

Willie Johnson was born in 1897, and from the beginning he loved to sing--and play his cigar box guitar. But his childhood was interrupted when he lost his mother and his sight. _How does a blind boy make his way in the world?_ Fortunately for Willie, the music saved him and brought him back into the light. His powerful voice, combined with the wailing of his slide guitar, moved people. Willie made a name for himself performing on street corners all over Texas. And one day he hit it big when he got a record deal and his songs were played on the radio. Then in 1977, his song--"Dark Was the Night"--was chosen to light up the darkness when it was launched into space on the _Voyager I_ space probe's famous Golden Record. His immortal song was selected for the way it expresses the loneliness humans all feel, while reminding us we're not alone.

### Author Biography

Gary Golio is a fine artist, musician, and psychotherapist. He is the author of the _New York Times_ bestseller _JIMI: Sounds Like A Rainbow--A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix_ and many other award-winning books. He lives in Briarcliff Manor, New York.

E. B. Lewis is the acclaimed illustrator of more than seventy picture books, including _Each Kindness_, _The Other Side_, and Caldecott Honor book _Coming on Home Soon_ (all by Jacqueline Woodson); _Preaching to the Chickens_ (by Jabari Asim); and several Coretta Scott King Award winners, such as _Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman_ and _The Bat Boy and His Violin_. He taught art in public schools for twelve years, and currently teaches at the University of Arts in Philadelphia. He lives in Folsom, New Jersey.

**Number of Pages:** 32

**Dimensions:** 0.4 x 11.3 x 8.7 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** August 25, 2020

**Accelerated Reader:**

**Quiz Name:** Dark Was the Night: Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars

**Interest Level:** Lower Grades, K-3

**Reading Level:** 4.2

**Point Value:** 0.5

## Details

- **Price:** 17.99 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 17.99 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Dark Was the Night: Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars - Hardcover

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