EVERYTHING you think you know about the history of "We Shall Overcome" is WRONG. This is the true, shocking, and previously untold story of the iconic freedom and protest anthem, "We Shall Overcome," and the journey of discovery leading to the identity of its true original author, Louise Shropshire. - A sharecropper's daughter and self-proclaimed "nobody", who through dedication to God, country and her fellow man, overcomes racism and poverty to find herself in the inner-circle of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey and, the African American Civil Rights Movement. Along her way, Shropshire composes and copyrights a popular Gospel-hymn, which after decades of being interpreted freely in churches and rallies around the country, is hijacked by powerful music-industry figures known to insiders as the "Folk Mafia". Without her authorization, Shropshire's sacred song is then unlawfully copyrighted by Pete Seeger's powerful publisher, The Richmond Organization, then peddled for untold millions all over the globe by Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteen and, others. Featuring more than 100 extraordinary photographs, this well sourced and cited compendium not only describes the disturbing details surrounding the misappropriation of We Shall Overcome, but also explores the historical attitudes of Black-exploitation, subjugation and, racism in America by non culture-bearers. -Attitudes that enabled such an unthinkable act to occur in the first place and remain unchallenged for more than half a century. Although the US Library of Congress has called, "We Shall Overcome", "The Most Powerful Song of the 20th Century", Louise Shropshire would die penniless and unrecognized for her historic contribution.
About the Author: Isaias Gamboa was born in San José, Costa Rica to parents of Spanish and African ancestry. In the early 1960's, his family immigrated to the US and made their home in the South-Central area of Los Angeles, California. Although born of Jewish ancestry, he was raised in both Baptist and Catholic churches - being the respective religious traditions of his parents. A faithful and passionate student of the Holy Bible, Isaias, now an ordained Christian minister, self-identifies as a follower or the teachings of Jesus Christ. Among other accomplishments, Isaias has been blessed with a fulfilling career as an acclaimed and Grammy(R) decorated music-producer, songwriter, recording engineer and arranger. He has written over 200 songs and has earned multiple RIAA platinum and gold sales awards. His production and arrangement credits include artists as diverse as The Temptations, Janet Jackson, Tupac, Gladys Knight, Bamboleo and many more. Isaias is a long standing member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and a voting-member of the Grammy affiliated National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS). As a real estate broker, Isaias owns a modest real estate restoration, brokerage and property-management firm. In 2010, Isaias founded the non-profit We Shall Overcome Foundation and remains active in humanitarian work throughout the US and Latin America. He is also the founder and director of The Brother and Sisterhood of Minority Tradesmen. For more information please visit: www.weshallovercomefoundation.org