After a dusk-to-dawn prostration before God at the altar of his church, John, the fourteen-year-old protagonist, delivers his soul to Christ at the end of James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain. Go Tell It on the Mountain is harsh in its criticism of that ancient faith. The novel is based on the life of John Coltrane, who grew up in rural Alabama and became one of the most influential jazz musicians in history. He developed his own unique sound that combined African American folk songs with classical music. Tell It On The Mountain is a collection of poems by Langston Hughes. Coltrane's mother dies when he is only seven years old, and he is raised by his grandmother. She tries to get him to learn a trade and goes to great lengths to ensure that he gets an education. However, young John shows no interest in school and instead spends his time playing music. When he was eleven years old, his grandmother dies and John is left alone. He decides to move to Harlem to be with his friends and play music full time. In Harlem, he meets people from all walks of life who help him develop as a musician and person. One of these people is Milt Jackson, a famous jazz pianist. Another is Cannonball Adderley, who teaches John about African American history. Still another is Wilton Gregory, a blind black composer who influences John's musical style greatly.