Table of Contents
Introduction Steve Harvey vii
Foreword David Foster ix
Prologue 1
Part I Memphis Wonderland
1 Mother Dear, Mama, and Me 5
2 As I Yearn, So I Learn 16
3 I'll Never Lose Chicago Blues 30
4 The Chess Lessons 45
5 The Ramsey Lewis Trio 59
6 The World Can't Erase My Fantasy 80
Part II Between The Vision and the Fulfillment
7 Starting from Scratch 87
8 Hearts of Fire, New Desire 102
9 Trusting in the Process 122
10 Step 136
Part III To Sing our Message Loud and Clear
11 True Pride 147
12 Accepting Life 157
13 That's the Way of the World 163
14 Expansion 178
15 Gratitude 188
16 Departure 199
Part IV Full-Spectrum Music
17 Musical and Spiritual Progressives 209
18 The Best of My Love at the Best of Times 216
19 All 'N All 221
20 Musical Theater, Magical Tour 230
21 Beginnings and Endings 242
22 A Hell of a Left Hand 250
23 I Am 257
Part V The Changing Times
24 All in the Creator's Hands 269
25 Don't Make My Band Your Crusade 273
26 The Groove 284
27 Black Tax 292
28 Something's Got to Give 306
29 On the Solo 313
30 Blindsided 324
31 Not Fitting In 327
32 A Time of Symbolism 336
33 Letting Go 340
Part VI Contemplation
34 Time Will Witness What the Old Folks Say 347
35 When My Final Song Is Sung 354
Afterword 357
Acknowledgments 361
Permissions 365
Index 369