Make a Joyful Noise: My 25 Years in Gospel Music [Hardcover]

Bobby Jones (Author), Lesley Sussman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 24, 2000

Make a Joyful Noise chronicles Dr. Bobby Jones' 25 years in gospel music. Dr. Bobby Jones is the host and executive producer of the world's number one gospel television program with a viewership exceeding five million. He shares with readers his own personal journey from an improverished childhood where his love of education and christian music played a major role in his becoming a prominent award-winning leader in the gospel music world. Dr. Jones counts many of gospel's most beloved celebrities as his friends, including Aretha Franklin, Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin, the Winans, and Barbara Mandrell. His book provides intimate and inspirational details of these friendships.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Jones is one enthusiastic, saved dude, whose "dear friends" include Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Al Sharpton, and Louis Farrakhan as well as Barbara Mandrell, Ronnie Millsap, and Tipper Gore, whom he baptized in the Jordan River. And talk about multicultural--all those folks show up in his as-told-to autobiography. He has many more friends in the audience for his cable TV gospel show. "Nothing," however, "was handed to me on a bed of roses," he says. This book tells about "all the hard work that went into becoming the successful celebrity" he is today. It also gives him "another opportunity to talk about the history of gospel music and introduce two women who are among its pioneers: Willie May Ford Smith and Sallie Martin." And he still has room in this uplifting testimony to give us a good look behind the scenes at the foremost African American broadcasting network, BET, and its visionary president, Bob Johnson. Jones is as positive on the page as on the tube. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Dr. Bobby Jones is the host and executive producer of cable television's only national gospel program, Bobby Jones Gospel, which is seen weekly by more than five million viewers on the BET network. He is also the receipient of numerous awards, including the Grammy, Dove, and NAACP Image Award.

Lesley Sussman is an award-winning journalist and the author of twelve nonfiction books. He is a journalist whose many awards include the Chicago Newspaper Guild's prestigious "Stick O' Type" award for excellence in feature writing.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press (November 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312252587
• ISBN-13: 978-0312252588
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,793,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointed!, March 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Make a Joyful Noise: My 25 Years in Gospel Music (Hardcover)

I definitely don't recommend this book because Bobby Jones slanders people that he associated with and great gospel artists. I HAVE read the whole book and just taking a few parts out doesn't make it any better. Yes, thank God for Dr. Jones and what he has done for gospel music, but right is right and wrong is wrong, particularly when you're talking about other people. I found most of his comments insulting. He seems to have a "high and lifted up" attitude just because of he has high degrees and most other folks in gospel don't. He said a lot of things he should have kept to himself. That's why I don't understand why people are saying this book is great. Saints, please keep this man in your prayers.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Look Inside God's Kingdom, November 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Make a Joyful Noise: My 25 Years in Gospel Music (Hardcover)

Anyone who knows anything about gospel music knows that Dr. Bobby Jones is the King of the Road. His Saturday night gospel show has since I was in suspenders been the only way for me to watch gospel music stars doing their stuff. Now, reading his remarkable memoir, I realize how hard life has been for Bobby and how easy he makes it look on his show and off. I loved all these behind-the-scenes stories of everyone from Louis Farrikan and the Rev. Jesse Jackson to all the top gospel talents in the industry.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Make a Joyful Review, November 2, 2000

By 

Edward Somers (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Make a Joyful Noise: My 25 Years in Gospel Music (Hardcover)

If you've ever been lucky enough to watch The Bobby Jones Gospel show on BET Network, you already know that when it comes to gospel singing and entertainment, this show really smokes. And Bobby Jones makes it all happen. He sings, he charms and he brings the gospel spirit to everyone.

Finally the story of Bobby Jones. His tough beginings and struggles to succeed are entertainingly presented. The book contains behind the scenes look at his show and the many gospel celebrities who appear on it. The book is a fun read, especially if you have some gospel music playing...even if just in your head.