Soul Serenade: Rhythm, Blues & Coming of Age Through Vinyl

by Rashod Ollison

A coming-of-age memoir about a young boy in rural Arkansas who searches for himself and his distant father through soul music

Soul Serenade is the memoir of pop music critic Rashod Ollison, whose love for soul music was fostered by his father, a disturbed Vietnam vet. After his parents’ volatile marriage ended in divorce, when Rashod was six years old, he retreated into the records his father left behind—discovering that the music of Aretha Franklin, Bobby Womack, Al Green, and others provided solace and coherence. Soul Serenade is the captivating coming-of-age story of a boy who tries to makes sense of life in central Arkansas in the 1980s and ’90s, his family’s tragic past, and his sexuality, all through empowering soul music.

Genres: Memoir, Music, Nonfiction, LGBT

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 26, 2016

About the author

Rashod Ollison is an award-winning music and culture critic and native of Little Rock, Arkansas. He has been a staff critic at The Dallas Morning News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Journal News in Westchester, N.Y., The Baltimore Sun and The Virginian-Pilot.

He is a 2000 graduate of The University of Arkansas, where he earned a B.A. in creative writing and journalism with a minor in African-American studies. Ollison’s literary debut, Soul Serenade: Rhythm, Blues & Coming of Age Through Vinyl, is a memoir set to publish in Jan. 2016 by Beacon Press.

For lectures and interviews, contact Rashod at minniechaka@aim.com

Reviews

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good memoir about growing up in Arkansas with a single Mom working two jobs trying to keep a roof over their heads. He is introduced to music by his Dad and finds out he really good at writing.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like several others who reviewed this book, I misunderstood the title and expected a book about rhythm and blues music, not a memoir about how this music becomes a place of refuge and comfort in one person's life. As a result, after reading about 50 pages, I put the book down, thinking I would leave it unread. Luckily for me, my wife picked it up, read it, did not approach it with the same misconceptions I had, loved it, and told me I needed to try again. I am so glad I did. First, a confession. I love memoirs. If you don't, then maybe this is not for you. But, really, who among us doesn't like being the fly on the wall of someone else's life? And Mr. Ollison's childhood was filled with just the kind of sadness, dysfunction, isolation, ostracism, self-doubt, intellectual curiosity, fighting spirit, occasional unanticipated helping hands and overcome-all-odds achievement that is the stuff great memoirs are made of. Through pain, loneliness, music, keen observation, and the faith of those who took advantage of the gift of getting to know young Rashod through his writing, Rashod Ollison finds his place in the world, a world that for so long seemed to hold no place for someone like him, an outsider's outsider. Ultimately, this book is a very uplifting read, not to mention a great insight into what life is like for someone who is growing up poor, black and gay in a single-parent household.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a rich, evocative memoir. I chose this book for what turned out to be a wrong reason, thinking it would be more about the Motown sound (a favorite of mine) and how it provided shelter in a troubled life. But Rashod Ollison's life is far from a cliche, despite the privations imposed by poverty. His Viet Nam vet father, suffering from undiagnosed PTSD, loves his family but can't control his impulses. His mother, a force to be reckoned with, is nonetheless determined to provide for her children even if it means leaving them alone at very young ages in order to work two jobs.

Ollison is never abused, drugs are not a factor, and his mother's family (who "lived loud and large") is, again, far from cliched. His grandmother, known as Ms. Teacake, is not, however, of the "biscuit making cookie baking" variety and could care less for the accomplishments of her remarkable grandson. From an early age, Ollison displays scholastic ability, a fact recognized by a series of teachers, and he finds himself in (usually white) advanced classes. His dealings with questions of race are not oppressive, and his awakening as a gay man does not distress him. He is remarkably centered, well balanced. How this comes to be is set forth is beautiful prose. His appreciation for poetry developed at a precocious age. Need I say, highly recommended.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid four and a half star read. I loved this book! It is an autobiographical memoir of Rashod Ollison, writer and music critic. The story is set in Arkansas. Part in Malvern and Hot Springs where his parents are from, met, married and divorced and part set in Little Rock.

The story is relateable and contemporary. The voice the story is written in is so strong and the characters so well drawn that there were times I had to remind myself this was not an amazing fiction novel. The truth rings clear and the author doesn't shy away from the tough times - when money is tight, times are lean and the lights get turned off.

It is also not populated by stereotypical characters. The people are real and they are portrayed in all of their fullness, richness and reality. His mom is a tough cookie and she comes from a family of tough cookies. His dad is a man driven my PTSD from Vietnam and being enabled by his family.

But it is the author's personal journey that is so inspiring and moving. A gifted and talented person who from childhood is derided by friends and family as being a "faggot" and who comes to terms with his sexuality over the course of the novel.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I think it's wonderful for anyone but I would love to see this book in high school libraries and on high school reading lists. I plan to share this book as widely as possible. I look forward to reading more from this author and would love to see him do some fiction writing in the future.

[Matthew Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book written by a music writer, I felt like a lot of the musical selections/references were just sort of thrown in there as an afterthought. The ups and downs of real estate in 1990s Little Rock were also a little hard to keep track of after a while.

[Retha Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading about music critic Rashod Ollison's life and his growing up during the 1980's and 90's in central Arkansas. Rashod's father fostered his love of music and it plays a huge part in his growing up and in keeping Rashod linked to him even after he disappears from his life.
He writes in a way that I found to be very honest and relatable and I was rooting for him throughout the book. He faced many obstacles growing up, yet he found a way to overcome them and become a successful critic and journalist.
One of my favorite parts in the book was when one of his teachers kept him after class to ask him what was wrong because he hadn't been acting like himself. He starts to cry and tells her no one likes him at school.
His teacher tells him that "not everybody is going to like you and don't you worry about that. How someone feels about you is none of your business. We all want to be liked, but you got to like yourself first. You just keep on steppin' like you somebody. Those same folks making fun of you now will try to be your friend when you're doing very well years from now."
Such great advice but so very hard to follow when you are young and different from most of your peers.
I would definitely recommend this book to others who enjoy memoirs and stories of people overcoming obstacles.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and I am glad I did because I don't know if I would have had the chance to read it otherwise, and I would have really missed out on a good book.

[Michelle Arredondo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soul Serenade: Rhythm, Blues & Coming of Age Through Vinyl appealed to me from the start. I love and collect books from people in the music business either by them or about them. Music is as great to me as books are...and I jump on an opportunity to read more about that life.

The memoir of Rashod Ollison...a music critic...someone I have never heard of before but was interested in learning about his life in Rhythm and Blues. His story is chock full of struggle and music is the release, saving grace, release that sees him through not just for him but his family as well. A coming of age story taking us back to the 80's...I don't recall all the music..I wasn't a fan of every entertainer he mentions but I was still intrigued. It is a deep read and the way that Mr. Ollison writes it is a relatable one or at least that's the feeling that comes across. This book to me is more about his childhood, his growing up years, his family...music being the escape, the outlet, the saving grace to get him through his struggles.

A good read. More about family hardships than the music as I was expecting but still a poignant read. At 225 pages you can get through it in one sitting but the emotion you feel from this book last much longer.

[Martina Callum · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are my comments I posted on Mr. Ollison's site on Amazon
I read this book in one day...why..because I was assorbed with learning and understanding the survival mechanisms this manchild developed to survive and succeed in spite of the dysfunction surrounding him. This book will make some of us cry.. not for Rashod but for ourselves...here it is in black and white ..an inside view of the devastion that recked so many moderate to low income black communities in this country...alcoholism, drug addition, racism..he gave it to us up close and personal..When I finished the book Maya Angelou's "The Mask"..an adaptation of Paul Lawrence Dunbar's "We Wear the Mask"s came to mind...Rashod peeled back another layer ..exposing the lack of boundaries, lack of sensitivity..the self hate, and being marginalized in your own family! He did it without malice, bitterness or anger. I'm sure he knew his story ..his truth would sting so he lessened the blow for us with his skillful use of humor. I highly recommend this book and Yes I would read it again!.

[Donna’s Book Addiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memoir from debut author Rashod Ollison reflecting on his youthful upbringing in Arkansas. The subtitle is what drew me in: Rythm, Blues and Coming of Age Through Vinyl. A distant but loving mother who moves around frequently and a missing father.

Ollison describes the influence of music introduced by his father, vinyl before CD's, but this aspect almost disappears as the book progresses, but his narrative still stimulated my desire to read on.

Occasionally he would mention an artist that I wasn't familiar with, so I would Google the artist and/or the song to familiarize myself and to feel his appreciation for that time and mood. I myself grew up around a wide variety of music that my father introduced to me and I appreciate to this day. I went as far back as 8 track tapes.

The memoir kept my attention and a peek into the authors life of instability, loneliness and questions about his sexual identity was a wonderful read. Ollison found a purpose and love within himself, which is a positive for me.

[Frank Hoppe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this a lot more than I ended up liking it. Ollison is a good writer, but I was misled by the book's subtitle, Rhythm, Blues & Coming of Age through Vinyl. I expected a future music critic's elucidation of the power music, specifically vinyl, had to do with shaping the person he would become. To a very limited extent he does, but the primary focuses of the book are the hard times he experienced in his childhood and his family's tough times. Music did provide a bit of a buffer for him, but it seemed music was mostly a soundtrack, a background that helped take the edges off the tough times he underwent. It's almost as if some early reader indicated that this would be too unrelenting a narrative unless the music focus could be played up. I wish the two themes had been more integrated, striking a balance between music and lived experience. As a music junky, I felt shortchanged.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads. This was a fantastic read. I love anything to do with music and how it is a chronicle for our lives. I could relate to music being a lifeline for young, Rashod (Dusty). I would recommend this book to anyone that likes reading about someone who prevails beyond their struggles.

I had a hard time putting this book down. Thank you, Rashod for sharing your story.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not certain of what to expect from this book, I was pleased to find it a heartwarming and well-written coming of age story. A long-time fan of early rhythm and blues, I enjoyed the musical references and felt closely akin to the author’s identification with the lyrics. Rashod Ollison has shared this story of pain and hope with a skill and passion that could only come from the life he’s led.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, funny and at times, profoundly moving.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good book. Rated 2.0 of 5

I was 100% attracted to this book because of the sub-title: Rhythm, Blues & Coming of Age Through Vinyl. The effect of music, particularly in the age of vinyl, holds a lot of interest to me. What I was expecting, then, was a memoir addressing the role music played in the life and growth of Rashod Ollison ... whoever he is.
After reading the book I did a little research and even checked out some of the other book reviews (I rarely do that). Mr. Ollison, it appears, was a respected music critic and journalist who wrote for magazines and papers such as Dallas Morning News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Journal News (Westchester, New York), Baltimore Sun, and Virginian-Pilot. These are not papers that I read and I think that perhaps the book would be much more interesting to someone who knows who Rashod Ollison is. Or was. Unfortunately, he has passed away since the publication of this book.

The book is much more an exploration of of Ollison's homosexuality - at least more-so this than the influence of music in his life. Growing up Black and gay is surely challenging and Ollison didn't have it easy. But he persisted, and found his niche - writing - with great thanks to a teacher who saw, if not talent, an interest that could be cultivated.

These are great stories. How many of us can look back and think of one or more teachers who were influential to us during formative years?

But for a man who spent his career writing, this book just never grabs the reader or delivers a punch worth remembering.

The description of the book talks a lot about music and its influence on a boy growing up in Arkansas and I won't say that this isn't there, but it's definitely not the strength of the book. Things perked up in the last quarter of the book and honestly, if I had started with that, I might have had a more enjoyable read throughout (it's a memoir ... you can write things out of timeline order!).

Looking for a good book? Soul Serenade by Rashod Ollison is a memoir/biography supposedly using the background of music to identify the author's growth and chosen moments, but for someone who has no idea who the author is, there's not enough here to appeal.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

[Thomas DeWolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book after learning of Rashod Ollison's recent passing through a Facebook post from Gayatri Patnaik, my editor at Beacon Press. Though we shared a fantastic editor and publisher, I never met Rashod... until I read his powerful, haunting, and hopeful memoir. Even in the midst of a busy fall schedule, I read Soul Serenade quickly, it's pages so filled with words that flow smooth and strong about his challenging childhood and troubled relationships with those closest to him - particularly his mother and father; about music and food; trauma and hope. Gayatri quoted his reflections on the publication of his book. I share his words here as well, and encourage everyone to read Soul Serenade.

"The celebration for me is that I honestly, elegantly and lovingly distilled a place, time and people that the mainstream overlooks or ignores altogether. The celebration is that I did something for ‘Dusty,’ that little boy I was, a gifted, sensitive child who always felt so alone in the world. I told that boy’s story. The celebration is that my mother, aunts and sisters – fiercely strong, deeply flawed and richly nuanced black women – come to life on the pages without ever veering into stereotypes. The celebration is that this book assumes the centrality of my gloriously funky and dysfunctional Southern upbringing with no apologies or self-loathing edits for the “white gaze.” It simply is what it is: a human story of resilience. And I can share that with anyone who chooses to open the book and surrender to the text. That is as good a reason as any to celebrate."

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about growing up poor and black in southern Arkansas. Rashad ,or Dusty as his parents called him, is poor and black and gay but more importantly intelligent, kind, hard working and loving. His mother is a hard working single mom to three kids but he longs for love and affection which his absent dad used to provide. It’s a heartbreaking story but I’m so glad I read it.

[Carla Millan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not what I had expected. When I first picked it up I thought it was a story not a memoir regardless I fell in love with this book. I really loved the author story telling and written style. I related to Dusty a lot we both had a very similar home life. It was a quick read at no point it god boring for me.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

I thought this book was going to be more about music and stories about author but what it really was so much more. While the music was woven throughout the story I found Rashod's story so much more interesting. Rashod lived in the South growing up as a young, gay African American man. He had so many things that he had to deal with, an absentee dad, a single-parent mom and growing up as a gay man - and yet music seemed to save him. It seemed like the way he could connect with his family. Through his father he learned the music of the soul which never left him - actually it gave him a foundation for him to be able to identify with the world, a solace and comforting presence even when the adults around him are unable to give him comfort.

I am so thankful for getting a brief glimpse into Rashod's life.

[willowdog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoir of growing up in Arkansas is sad, funny, and fulfilling. The family/families picture here are presented very much as real—often dysfunctional. The youth grows up as an outsider who finds his voice in writing.

[Bryan Spellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I requested this book through the Early Reviewers program because, with over 1,000 LPs in my personal collection, the subtitle "...Coming of Age Through Vinyl" spoke to me on a deep level. While my family life was nothing like that of the author, growing up I, too, took comfort in the music on my turntable. Just a different type of music. I have to say that I have never heard of many of the artists whose music spoke to Mr. Ollison, but that doesn't mean I couldn't know his feelings as the music washed over him and insulated him from the world outside. This is a very powerful story of a man triumphing over amazing adversities. I can't pretend to have any idea of what it's like growing up a black male in a largely white society, nor can I relate to the women Ollison describes when he talks about his mother's family or the female neighbors he portrays--the project divas. I have to admit that for me, I see black sit com queens in the divas of Hot Springs and Little Rock. But they are vividly drawn creatures, truly the mark of a master writer. Highly recommended, and I, for one, look forward to a sequel--the college years.

[Amanda Reynolds-Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book. The way the author writes about his family, his childhood and the music that helped keep him sane is wonderful and poignant. It's lyrical and poetic and brought me close to tears more than once. It's a story about growing up poor, black and gay, but it's also a story about family relationships and the way in which we relate to music and how both work together.

If I have any criticism of this book, it's that once the author realized he was indeed gay, there doesn't seem to ever be...pay off exactly. No coming out this his family or anything like that. Him coming to terms with it is certainly the most important aspect of it, but I still felt like that was missing. His family certainly suspected he may be for years but we never see that moment of them really coming to terms with it as well. Small critique though. Loved the book overall.

[Mixter Mank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rashod Ollison recounts the heartaches of growing up gay, black, and poor in a single-parent Arkansan household. His perpetual status as an outsider has obviously refined his ability to make clear-eyed observations about cultural identity, gender and humanity. Filled with lively and believable dialog, this memoir often reads like a novel. The title, however, is a bit misleading, as music doesn't play as big a role in this story as I expected. In fact, Ollison seems to find nearly as much redemption in reading and writing as he does through music. Nevertheless, the music is there, often as the only point of contact between him and his troubled father. I really enjoyed this.

[Maegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really good memoir. It was an interesting jaunt throughout and I enjoyed the way he wrote about his emotions and feelings of his childhood. While reading I felt that I was reading a story, not just another boring memoir. Although I do want to know where the lives of his sisters and his mom ended up, maybe that could be his next book.