This year's One Book One Community event programming begins on March 19, with an official kickoff party featuring a performance by The Michael Foster Project, and culminating with an appearance by author Chris Thomas King on April 29. Both events will take place at the Main Library at Goodwood.
Below are event highlights for the series. All One Book One Community and Library events are free, in-person, and open to the public. Registration links can be found at ReadOneBook.org or in the Events Calendar section at EBRPL.com.
Above, l-r: "The Hidden History of Louisiana's Jazz Age" by Sam Irwin, "In Search of the Blues" by Marybeth Hamilton, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee Jonathon "Boogie" Long, and "Huey 'Piano' Smith and the Rocking Pneumonia Blues" by John Wirt
• Wednesday, March 15, 6 pm at the Main Library at Goodwood (no registration required) - Hidden History of Louisiana's Jazz Age. An exploration of Louisiana's musical history with Author Sam Irwin
• Sunday, March 19, 4 pm–6 pm at the Main Library at Goodwood (no registration required) - Kickoff Party featuring The Michael Foster Project. Kicking off the 17th Annual One Book One Community series celebrating The Blues: The Authentic Narrative of My Music and Culture by Chris Thomas King. This will be a family-friendly event featuring live music by The Michael Foster Project, food and refreshments, crafts, and community organizations celebrating Louisiana's rich music, culture, history, & more.
• Thursday, March 30, 6:30 pm at the Main Library at Goodwood (registration required) - Open Book Discussion: The Blues & Blues Music History. A chance to talk all about the blues –– dive into blues history with Chris Thomas King’s The Blues or Julian C. Piper’s Blues from the Bayou: The Rhythms of Baton Rouge; learn about the New Orleans legend through Huey "Piano" Smith and the Rocking Pneumonia Blues by John Wirt, delve into Delta blues through In Search of the Blues by Marybeth Hamilton, and explore American music with Questlove’s Music is History, or even bring your own book to share with the group.
• Sunday, April 2, 3 pm at the Main Library at Goodwood - An Hour of Live Music with Jonathon "Boogie" Long. You’re invited to celebrate the blues with an hour of live music by Jonathon "Boogie" Long, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee and 2011 Guitar Center “King of the Blues” winner for best unsigned blues guitarist in America.
• Tuesday, April 4, Noon at the Scotlandville Branch Library - Listen to Lloyd “Teddy” Johnson: Join Lloyd “Teddy” Johnson, owner of the world-famous Teddy’s Juke Joint as he speaks on his decades of life experiences operating a blues music venue and other stories about the blues.
• Sunday, April 16, 3 pm at the Main Library at Goodwood (registration required). Huey 'Piano' Smith and the Rocking Pneumonia Blues with Author John Wirt. Author and journalist John Wirt will discuss his book Huey “Piano” Smith and the Rocking Pneumonia Blues
• Saturday, April 29, 4 pm at the Main Library at Goodwood (registration required) - Author Event with Chris Thomas King. Meet Chris Thomas King, author of this year's One Book One Community selection for an author’s talk to discuss The Blues: The Authentic Narrative of My Music and Culture, followed by a Q&A and book signing.
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