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The Local Take: Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge With Author Gary Golio

This week on WCLK's The Local Take(Saturday 8am) we welcome back New York Times Bestselling Author Gary Golio to speak about his new book Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge. Golio has covered many artists with colorful picture books that can be enjoyed by children and adults. Often he is researching iconic artists in our past such as Jimi Hendrix and Billie Holiday. His research for this story included a number of interviews with Sonny Rollins. I ask Golio if this made a difference in his approach to the story.

The theme of the book is about “listening to the small voice” in our head that often imparts wisdom. I ask if this was an organic theme or if he wrote the story with that theme in mind. 

Golio explains that Rollins considers himself a modern-day Yogi. Rollins learned at an early age that the “force” that guides all spirituality speaks to us, we just have to listen. 

The title of the book comes for an action that Rollins actually took, playing his horn on the Williamsburg Bridge back in the day when it wasn’t a very pleasant place. It was the one place where Rollins could play and not be disturbed. 

He shares that Rollins intentionally cultivated his inner voice when he had difficulties with fame. He became sober in 1959 and gave the voice his priority. Golio shares that Rollins didn’t want to become a better musician he wanted to become a better person.

 

  

For more information on Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge

For more information on Gary Golio