Friday Night at Honeybee's: A NovelEveryone who's anyone in the Harlem music scene has heard of Honeybee McColor and the famous Friday night gathers that fill her house to bursting. In the early 1960s, nowhere but "The Big House" attracts so many renowned jazz and blues musicians—and no one but Miss Honeybee attracts talented lost souls like Forestine Bent and Viola Bembrey. The two singers come from separate worlds: one the Brooklyn projects, the other the Baptist, rural South. One has a God-given voice and the ambition to be a star, the other a more subtle gift and a handful of hazy fantasies. But both learn the destructive consequences of following their hearts. They find sanctuary together under Honeybee's tender guidance, struggling to find the balancing point where music doesn't overpower love. Including a passel of characters both wildly raunchy and remarkably dignified, Andrea Smith has woven an unforgettable tale overflowing with energy, heart, and humanity. |
Contents
Section 13 | 213 |
Section 14 | 233 |
Section 15 | 250 |
Section 16 | 264 |
Section 17 | 275 |
Section 18 | 288 |
Section 19 | 295 |
Section 20 | 299 |
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Common terms and phrases
ain't Amos answered baby Beck Benny beside Bethanne Betty Carter Big House blues Bobby Timmons bout Brooklyn called chile church club Curtis Cynthie daddy damn Dinah Washington Don Byas Donald Hinson door dress Eartha Eddie Bishop Eddie's Etta eyes face feel felt folks Forestine asked Forestine's front gather girl glass hair hand Hattie head heard hell Honey Isabel Jackie Wilson Jasperville jazz kinda kitchen knew laughed Lester Lilian Lord Lucas ma'am mama Miles Davis Miss Honeybee Miss Rosalee Miss Rose Nelvern never Nick night opened played pretty pulled replied Reverend Bembrey Reverend Dr shoulders sing singin sister smiled Snookie Petaway's song stood stopped talk talkin tell things thought tonight took turned Vernon Viola asked Viola looked voice waited walked wanna whispered Willa Willie woman y'all yelled