Albert James Young, known as Al Young, was a distinguished American poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and professor, celebrated for his deep integration of music and literature. Born on May 31, 1939, in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Young's early life was shaped by the cultural landscapes of the segregated South and later Detroit, where his family moved in 1946. This duality of experience influenced his artistic vision profoundly.

Young's academic journey began at the University of Michigan, where he studied from 1957 to 1961 and co-edited the campus literary magazine, Generation. He later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, earning a bachelor's degree in Spanish from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1969. His career in academia included teaching positions at several prestigious institutions, including Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UC Santa Cruz.

Throughout his prolific career, Young seamlessly blended his love for music, particularly jazz and blues, with his literary pursuits. His "musical memories" trilogy—Bodies and Soul, Kinds of Blue, and Things Ain’t What They Used to Be—reflects this synthesis. Young's poetry and prose often incorporated rhythmic speech patterns and vernacular influenced by his musical interests.

Young's contributions to literature were recognized with numerous accolades, including fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, and a Fulbright Fellowship. He served as California's Poet Laureate from 2005 to 2008, a role in which he traveled extensively, sharing his work across the state.

Despite his achievements, Young remained somewhat underrecognized, a fact attributed by some to his residence on the West Coast, away from the traditional literary hubs of the East Coast. Nevertheless, his legacy endures through his extensive body of work, which includes novels, poetry collections, essays, and screenplays. Al Young passed away on April 17, 2021, leaving behind a rich legacy of artistic exploration and cultural commentary.