Irma Thomas

Johnette Downing is a New Orleans multi-award-winning singer, musician, composer, author, illustrator, and poet. She is author of thirty books, primarily for children. She has presented her Louisiana roots music concerts for children, as well as author visits, keynotes, and educator workshops on five continents. She is the recipient of the 2017 Louisiana Writer Award.
Scott Billington is a three-time Grammy-winning roots music producer who has worked with such artists as Irma Thomas, Charlie Rich, and Bobby Rush. For many decades, he balanced his roles as producer, art director, musician, and A&R executive at the highly regarded Rounder Records label, where he was responsible for hundreds of recordings. A former Recording Academy Trustee, he lives in New Orleans, where he previously taught music production at Loyola University. He often performs with his wife, the children’s musician Johnette Downing. He is also author of Making Tracks: A Record Producer’s Southern Roots Music Journey, published by University Press of Mississippi.

Foreword
Introduction
Chapter One: Country Girl (1941–1946)
Chapter Two: Surrounded by Music (1947–1953)
Chapter Three: All Grown Up (1947–1956)
Chapter Four: Don’t Mess with My Man (1958–1960)
Chapter Five: Irma and Allen (1961–1963)
Chapter Six: The First California Sessions (1964)
Chapter Seven: Times Have Changed (1965–1969)
Chapter Eight: Los Angeles and Oakland (1970–1975)
Chapter Nine: Back Home in New Orleans (1976–1984)
Chapter Ten: The New Rules (1985–1991)
Chapter Eleven: Going to School (1992–2004)
Chapter Twelve: After the Storm (2005–2006)
Chapter Thirteen: Soul Survivor (2007–2010)
Chapter Fourteen: The Legacy Years (2011–2025)
Chapter Fifteen: Coda
Notes
Index