Book Review: Dark Was The Night: Blind Willie Johnson’s Journey To The Stars

Author: Gary Golio Illustrator: E.B. Lewis Nancy Paulsen Books January 2020

“You used your singing voice the way a preacher would- sometimes loud and rough, sometimes soft and tender. After all, there was sadness in the world, but also joy”

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Synopsis (From Publisher):

Willie Johnson was born in 1897, and from the beginning he loved to sing–and play his cigar box guitar. But his childhood was interrupted when he lost his mother and his sight. How does a blind boy make his way in the world? Fortunately for Willie, the music saved him and brought him back into the light. His powerful voice, combined with the wailing of his slide guitar, moved people. Willie made a name for himself performing on street corners all over Texas. And one day he hit it big when he got a record deal and his songs were played on the radio. Then in 1977, his song–“Dark Was the Night”–was chosen to light up the darkness when it was launched into space on the Voyager I space probe’s famous Golden Record. His immortal song was selected for the way it expresses the loneliness humans all feel, while reminding us we’re not alone

CWR Review:

Interestingly, this story starts with the 1977 time capsule Golden Record that was sent into outer space aboard Voyager I to capture the diversity the earth. Scientist Carl Sagan chose a diversity of the sounds of the human race for the record and put Willie Johnson’s “Dark Was The Night” right next to Beethoven. Young Willie Johnson, born in 1897, had a difficult life, lost his mama and went blind as a boy. Still Willie sang, he sang into the darkness that engulfed him, he sang at church and on street corners using a pocket knife to slide along the strings of his guitar for the exaggerated sound it made. He traveled across Texas, standing on street corners, lifting his raspy voice to sing to poor cotton farmers and anyone else who listen. Soon he caught the attention of a music company and poor blind Willie Johnson was given the opportunity to make a record that sold thousands of copies. The book ends with the infamous Dark was the Night that was placed on the golden disc, and sent out to the stars after Willie Johnson’s death.

What to expect- simple uncovuluted text that tells the sad story of Willie Johnson’ early life, but then that goes on to tell of his singing light into his dark world and the world of others. You will be slow to pass up another street musician without dropping a coin or two (or at least acknowledging their existence!) ever again. The story is written as if writing to Willie Johnson himself.

E. B lewis’ bright watercolor illustrations are soft and easy on the eye, you’ll stare at the pages as he beautifully captures Willie’s emotions in the different stages of his life.

The authors note in the back gives a brief history of what little is known of Willie’s life, and goes into more detail about how Dark Was The Night was selected for the golden record. 

Sad yet encouraging, a feeling of light in darkness, get yours here or here.

Themes- Blues history, Voyager I, African American music history