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Aleta Hodge: Author's Statement:
I am thankful to my mother's fourth grade teaching experience for instilling in me the love of history.
In high school, I became a member of the Shortridge High School Daily Echo staff. I am sharing my
love of history and jazz music with young adults and readers of all ages. My family lived near the
Black music hub, Indiana Avenue in Indianapolis. As a 4-year-old, I remember singing along to
my aunt's record collection of songs like Ella Fitzgerald's A Tisket, A Tasket, and
Harry Belafonte's Dayo. My father and uncle shared their stories of local and national jazz and
blues music legends.
After my first book in this series, Indiana Avenue - Life and Musical Journey from 1915 to 2015,
I presented live shows, Indiana Avenue Jazz. Attendees of all ages enjoyed the program and .
shared their curiosity about one musician in the book, Noble Sissle, Sr., a native son of Indy. They
asked, "How did a Black man achieve great fame in the early 1900s?" "How did he overcome
racism, discrimination, and racial injustice?"
Enjoy Noble Sissle, Sr.'s musical journey!
Books:
2024: The Robust Life and Music of Noble Sissle, Sr.
2018: Indiana Avenue – Life and Musical Journey from 1915 to 2015
Live Storyteller Presentations:
2024 IU Health Wellness Symposium, 100th Tribute to J. J. Johnson
2024 Eskenazi Health Music Program, 100th Tribute to J. J. Johnson
2023 Historian, PBS documentary, Wes Bound, 100th Tribute to Wes Montgomery,
https://indianapublicmedi.org/wesmontgomery/
2023 Center for Performing Arts, Carmel, IN, Indiana Avenue Jazz™