Quincy Troupe

Music fans know Quincy Troupe as the writer who helped pen the life story of one of America’s most influential musicians, Miles Davis. Miles: The Autobiography won the American Book Award and is easily a top-fiver on any popular music must-read list. But Troupe is also a celebrated poet whose list of accomplishments includes being named California’s first poet laureate, serving as a professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego and publishing eight volumes of poetry. For the catalog of the Menil’s current exhibit “NeoHooDoo: Art for a Forgotten Faith,” Troupe contributed his poem “An Art of Lost Faith.” Today he’ll read it and other works as well as participate in a Q&A with Menil curator Franklin Sirmans. We admit we’re excited to hear Troupe’s wordsmithery, but — after reading Miles and Me, his book about befriending the jazzman — we’re also hoping he delves a bit into his life with Miles. 6 p.m. reading, followed by a book signing. 1515 Sul Ross. For information, call 713-525-9400 or visit www.menil.org. Free.
Sat., Sept. 13, 6 p.m., 2008