About His Latest Book
“There are few things that stimulate the brain the way music does,” says one Johns Hopkins otolaryngologist. “If you want to keep your brain engaged throughout the aging process, listening to, or playing music is a great tool. It provides a total brain workout.” The Music Makers takes readers on a nostalgic, musical trip down memory lane–– perhaps providing a virtual brain workout in the process. It examines the most popular songs and performers of each decade for the past 120 years illustrating the evolution in the tastes of popular music. Many of the artists and composers from each decade are recognized with portraits painted by the author providing a visually interesting reference for reminiscing.
About His Prior Book
Faces in American History…from my palette is a heuristic, thumbnail view of American history focused on each president of the United States from George Washington to Joseph Biden. A brief narrative summarizing each president’s administration––including key legislation––is provided in the book’s 30,000 words. In addition to individual portraits of the 45 principals, an additional 78 paintings provide important background perspective of events or individuals associated with each time frame. Readers interested in presidential history should enjoy both the paintings and the non-partisan information included in this “unusual textbook.” The book is appropriate for students from middle school to college. As a picture book, it can be enjoyed by even younger students learning to recognize the presidents and many of the other historical figures.
About the Artist-Author
ABOUT THE ARTIST- AUTHOR
Six months past his 90th birthday, Stephen G. “Jerry” Norton has enjoyed a wide-ranging career––a patriot, veteran of the Korean Conflict, then a graduate of Columbia University, he spent the next forty years developing sophisticated airborne radar systems for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force. Next, in retirement, he embarked on a second 25-year career as a sports photojournalist. Along the way, he found time to coach youth sports, teach wheelchair tennis to Special Olympic athletes, and write five non-fiction books. Two years ago, as therapy for chronic pain, he took up oil painting and, despite vision in only one eye, used his skills as a copy artist to create a sixth non-fiction work; Faces in American History…from my palette. He has recently completed a seventh book, Music Makers of the 20th and 21st Centuries...from my palette. In May 2022, Jerry was honored to receive the First Coast Cultural Center's Art of Giving Award which is given to a business or individual committed to sustaining arts and cultural programs within the Beaches community.