"At long last a scholarly book on Texas-born blind pianist and singer Juanita "Arizona" Dranes who was greatly encouraged to record her music by founding Church of God in Christ Evangelist Bishop Samuel M. Crouch. She first recorded in Chicago during the late 1920s where she left her indelible signature on the primal development of modern-day gospel piano." --Opal Louis Nations, Gospel musicologist and music producer "The School of Arizona Dranes: Gospel Music Pioneer lovingly frames the life of an extraordinary blind, southern, black singer who introduced the "gospel beat" and the percussive use of voice in her performances. As a Pentecostal singer in the Church of God in Christ, Dranes created an ecstatic, sensuous sound that shaped both modern gospel music and rock and roll. Since his discovery of Arizona Dranes's music as a 19-year-old student at Swarthmore College 37 years ago, Timothy Dodge has been on a mission to learn about the singer's life and to honor her contributions to American music and religion. The School of Arizona Dranes: Gospel Music Pioneer is a timeless study that captures both Dranes and her musical legacy with grace and beauty." --William Ferris, University of Mississippi.