Ravi Howard’s latest novel, Driving the King, creates an indelible portrait of pre-civil rights America and an exceptional friendship. The book is a fictional portrayal of an actual event: the night in 1945 that singer Nat King Cole was attacked onstage in Alabama by a white assailant wielding a pipe. Howard won the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence for his previous novel, Like Trees, Walking. He is also the recipient of an Emmy Award in 2005 for his work on Inside the NFL. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Terry “Harmonica” Bean is a Pontotoc-based bluesman who has played festivals around the world. A former major league pitching prospect, Bean began his blues career playing harp with with many Delta bluesmen including James “T-Model” Ford, Asie Payton and Lonnie Pitchford. Since 2002 he has released six self-produced CDs including his latest, Rock This House Tonight.

Andrew Bryant is the drummer for the acclaimed trio, Water Liars. He has just released his newest solo CD, This Is The Life (Sleep Records). This is Bryant’s sixth solo release and was recorded in his home studio in Water Valley. Bryant will be back on the road with the Water Liars this spring with plans for recording a new band album this summer. Their latest release is Water Liars.