It Shined; the saga of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils by Granda, Michael Supe - 2008

Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2008. Paperback. Good +. Octavo, 494 pages. Firm binding; no loose pages. Book and cover with minor wear. No writing or marks observed. Crease on the back cover. In the 1970s, a gathering of young singers, songwriters, musicians, artists, and poets began to meet at the Springfield, Missouri New Bijou Theater. From these meetings and jam sessions a musical group was formed. Originally named The Family Tree, they epitomized the tradition-rich Springfield music scene - which included the Ozark Jubilee. Their sound got noticed by music mogul, John Hammond which led to a 26-song studio demo, and soon caught the attention of A&M executive, David Anderle. The band signed with the label, changed their name to The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and went to London to record their debut album under the tutelage of Glyn Johns. The album contained the hit "If You Want to Get to Heaven." Their subsequent album, recorded in rural Missouri, included the hit "Jackie Blue." They grew a following of fans from around the world and continue to this day to perform for them.

St. Louis native Michale Supe Granda wrote numerous essays in the 1980s and 90s about music, politics and baseball, many being published in books and periodicals. His account of his foray into the political arena - when he ran for the Missouri House of Representative in 1990 - found its way into Dave Marsh's book, "50 Ways to Fight Censorship." His musical writings found their way into the Springfield News-Leader, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the Nashville Scene.