Image of the book cover of Holding the Note, Profiles in Popular Music by David Remnick
Black and white photo of David Remnick, author of Holding the Note

Photo credit: Brigitte Lacombe

David Remnick was born in New Jersey and graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature in 1981. He accepted a job at The Washington Post shortly after graduating. Remnick started as a night crime reporter, a position he held only briefly. He transitioned to the sports section, where George Solomon was the Post’s sports editor. After ten years at The Post, Remnick joined The New Yorker. He has been editor of the The New Yorker since 1998.

He has reported on Russia, the Middle East and Europe for the magazine. His 2010 biography on Barack Obama, The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama debuted at No. 3 in the New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover nonfiction.

He is the author of several books, including King of the World, a biography of Muhammad Ali, named the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine in 1998, and Lenin’s Tomb, winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

Peoria Reads 2025

Holding the Note: Profiles in Popular Music

For more than 20 years, Peoria Public Library has hosted a citywide literary event inviting all residents to read the same book at once.

Every year, our committee chooses a book that we believe has the ability to resonate with all Peorians. This year, we’ve chosen Holding the Note: Profiles in Popular Music by David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker since 1998 and the author of several books, including King of the World, a biography of Muhammad Ali, named the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine in 1998, and Lenin’s Tomb, winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

With Peoria’s long history of music, we hope everyone will be excited to read about some of the most influential musicians, songwriters, and performers of the past fifty years. In this book, Remnick’s deep love and knowledge of music joins with intimate interviews and biography with sharp analysis to explore the lives of artists like Paul McCartney, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Buddy Guy, Leonard Cohen and so many more.

Did any of them ‘play in Peoria?’

Of course they did. You’ll have to read the book and come to our special Peoria Reads programs to find out more.

Peoria Reads 2025 will kick off in September as part of National Library Card Sign-up Month, but will continue into early 2026 with a variety of themed programs.

We invite you to join Peoria Reads 2025!

Click on Upcoming Events (upper right corner) to view all the programs we have planned that connect to this year’s theme.

Peoria Reads Events

Peoria Reads

For more than 20 years, Peoria Public Library has hosted a citywide literary event inviting all residents to read the same book at once. 

Peoria Reads is led by Peoria Public Library with the help of community partners, Methodist College, Bradley University and Neighborhood House.

• Bring our diverse community together in ways to promote better understanding.

• Broaden and deepen readers’ appreciation for books dealing with significant issues.

• Bring more people into libraries, bookstores, and literacy institutions

• Increase opportunities for discussion between youth and adults

• Achieve a better understanding of ourselves and of our own humanity.