The Power of Music Few men, and even fewer entertainers, have impacted world events like the Colwell Brothers and Herb Allen. They played to cheering audiences across the globe, from intimate gatherings in the huts of remote villages to rock-star scale crowds at concert halls in great metropolises. They thrilled 90 million television viewers with their groundbreaking Up with People halftime spectacular at Super Bowl X. They met and performed for presidents, kings and prime ministers as well as everyday people in 60 countries on 6 continents. Their songs entertained, and challenged listeners to think, to see, to stand and make things better. Or sometimes, their music simply served to put things into perspective and help people laugh. They made it look easy to write songs on the road, rehearse them on the fly, and sing them in dialects and languages they had barely heard before. They never complained, though it took sacrifice, determination, and, most of all, courage. They literally walked away from their childhoods, comfort, careers and loved ones. They put it all on the line for something they believed. What they believed was that they could change the world. A Song for the World is the inside story, an up close and personal view of how they made things happen. It takes you around the planet and through half a century of historic, world shaping events that felt their influence. Through it all, the Colwell Brothers and Herb Allen relentlessly pursued the purpose of humanity. Their dedication and dreams touched the heart of a planet, set it beating to the rhythm of their music, and started its people marching to a greater vision of possibility. Such is the power of their music.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Frank McGee has built a distinguished career as a writer and journalist over half a century. In the tumultuous 1960s he covered stories as far afield as Brail, Indonesia, and Viet Nam. As managig editor of Pace magazine, a contemporary of Life, Look, and Holiday, he worked with thought leaders from around the world. During the 1970 s, McGee launched and edited New Worlds, the signature magazine of California s Orange Coast. The University of California at Irvine tapped him to write the coffee table book commemorating the school s first twenty-five years. In the 80s and 90 s, he authored and edited books on a variety of topics that were published in a dozen languages. From hundreds of letters and documents, scores of interviews, and a five-decade friendship with the Colwell Brothers and Herb Allen, Frank McGee has brought to light the astounding story of A Song for the World. He lives with his wife in Tucson, Arizona.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What A Great Life Adventure!,
By Hutch "Trampyre" (Las Vegas, Nevada USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Song for the World: The Amazing Story of the Colwell Brothers and Herb Allen: Musical Diplomats (Hardcover)
For those of us who have had the honor to be alumni of UP WITH PEOPLE (or those who were part of the numerous Sing-Outs throughout the world), The Colwell Brothers and Herbie Allen are legends. They have collaborated on hundreds of songs that will live forever in our memories. I have admired these men for decades, but beyond their involvement with UWP, I knew little about their life stories. This incredible book provides their backgrounds that few of us knew. Paul, Ralph, Steve and Ted Colwell (along with their "adopted sibling Herb Allen) have toured the world with their music... and in doing so, influenced the lives and cultures of everyone in our global community. The book is easy and exciting reading, and loaded with many pictures. Theirs is an incredible story that should appeal to EVERYONE, not just those of us who were in UP WITH PEOPLE! Author Frank McGee (himself an alumni of the program from early on) has done a remarkable job capturing the lives of these incredlbe musicians, whom I have hero-worshipped forever. This books is a must!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great read!,
By Alice Berger "Bergers Book Reviews" (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Song for the World: The Amazing Story of the Colwell Brothers and Herb Allen: Musical Diplomats (Paperback)
Paul, Steve and Ralph Colwell, and Herb Allen had a dream. They believed they could change the world through their music. Even though Ralph hadn't yet graduated from high school when their journey began, the brothers took off on a world tour that would bring them to places they could have never dreamed of visiting over the course of the next several years.
Some of their more memorable visits included spending a year in the Congo during the time the country became independent. They also visited Russia at the end of the Cold War, China after the Cultural Revolution ended, and many other unique stops along the way. In each place they visited, they met with world leaders and sang their message of peace as part of the movement called Moral Re-Armament. Frank McGee takes the reader on the journey along with the Colwells and Herb Allen, sharing pictures and memorabilia as well as first-hand accounts of their experiences. The reader shares in their joy and excitement at the positive receptions they received wherever they went. One can't help but feel a sense of awe at the way these men dedicated their lives to sharing their message of hope at a time when the world very much needed it. Muse Review Mark: Great Read Reviewer: Alice Berger, Muse Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling and interesting,
By Reader Views "Reviews, by readers, for readers" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Song for the World: The Amazing Story of the Colwell Brothers and Herb Allen: Musical Diplomats (Paperback)
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (7/07)
Award-winning author Frank McGee has compiled this remarkable story of "A Song for the World" from hundreds of letters, documents and scores of interviews. This is the story of the Colwell Brothers and Herb Allen, musical diplomats to the world. The book details the careers of these men, which spans a period of over fifty years. As entertainers, and song writers they demonstrated courage, commitment and vision leaving behind the comforts of home, promising careers, and budding romances to introduce a new concept for changing the world through the power of music. They touched the lives of millions of people, worldwide, with their songs. Their songs are written in dozens of languages and dialects. The format of the book is eye-catching in design with hundred of photos, giving detailed descriptions of the location, the events or persons. The text includes important side bars for emphasis of important details. Each chapter contains a song, poem or composition written by one of the men. I personally enjoyed the "The Amazing Music History Quiz" at the end of the book which highlights some of the early audacious adventures of the Colwell Brothers and Herb Allen. I also appreciated the complete index and bibliography included. Working with "Up with the People" the team traveled six continents. They faced the dusty roads of India, the revolution in the Congo, the strife in Ireland, and the closed door of China. They presented a message of hope and peace. The "Up with the People" team produced the half-time show for four Super Bowls, viewed by over 90,000 million people on television. "Up with the People" worked with 20,000 cast members from over 60 countries over a period of forty years. They performed in Munich, Madrid, Watts, Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, Moscow, Beijing, and numerous other important locations and national and international events. Direct quotes from Herb Allen, Paul, Ralph, and Steve Colwell reveal the depth of their dedication, and sacrifice to the cause of peace. The book is a tribute to these four men and the cause for which they dedicated their lives. Frank McGee's writing is crisp and descriptive. The book has a natural flow which includes historical events, musical diplomacy, and examples of organizational leadership. McGee's writing is informative, interesting, and compelling. "A Song for the World" is a book for anyone who wants to impact change in today's world. Received book free of charge
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