Florida Soul: From Ray Charles to KC and the Sunshine Band tells the story of Ray Charles’s musical upbringing in Florida, where he wrote his first songs and made his first recordings. It highlights the careers of Pensacola singers James and Bobby Purify and their producer, Papa Don Schroeder. Florida Soul reveals how Hank Ballard created his international hit song “The Twist” after seeing the dance in Tampa and profiles Gainesville singer Linda Lyndell (“What a Man”). Miami’s Overtown and Liberty City neighborhoods produced Sam Moore of the legendary duo Sam and Dave, Willie Clarke and Johnny Pearsall of Deep City Records, and singer Helene Smith.

John Capouya teaches journalism and nonfiction narrative at the University of Tampa. He mentors students in UT’s Lowresidency Creative Writing MFA program, as well as working with private writing clients. During his journalism career he was an editor at Newsweek and SmartMoney magazines, New York Newsday, and the New York Times. Florida Soul is his third book; his previous one, the biography Gorgeous George, is being adapted into a feature film.

The program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served, and the author will sign copies of his book at the conclusion of his presentation.