Summary
Not many musicals have an 800-page biography of founding father Alexander Hamilton as their inspiration. Yet, when Lin-Manuel Miranda read the Ron Chernow-penned biography, the Washington Heights-born playwright and lyricist saw at the heart of the story an immigrant's tale and created Hamilton. Blending hip-hop, salsa, and other genres with more traditional Broadway-style music, Hamilton would go on to earn multiple awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, two Grammys, and three Tony Awards. In this insightful biography, read about the creator of Hamilton and In the Heights, from his youth writing jingles for politicians to his work today, including his contributions to the soundtrack of the animated film Moana.
About the Author(s)
John Bankston is the author of more than 100 nonfiction books for children and young adults, including Latinos At Work: Careers in Community Service and the Chelsea House biographies of author Lois Lowry, journalist Nelly Bly, and Adele. He also has more than 200 articles published in magazines and newspapers across the country and has worked as an investigative reporter for The Tallahassean. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Bankston currently lives in coastal Florida.