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Working Class Mystic
By Gary Tillery. 2011
John Lennon called himself a working class hero George Harrison was a working class mystic Born in Liverpool…
as the son of a bus conductor and a shop assistant for the first six years of his life he lived in a house with no indoor bathroom This book gives an honest in-depth view of his personal journey from his blue-collar childhood to his role as a world-famous spiritual icon Author Gary Tillery s approach is warmly human free of the fawning but insolent tone of most rock biographers He frankly discusses the role of drugs in leading Harrison to mystical insight but emphasizes that he soon renounced psychedelics as a means to the spiritual path It was with conscious commitment that Harrison journeyed to India studied sitar with Ravi Shankar practiced yoga learned meditation from the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and became a devotee of Hinduism George worked hard to subdue his own ego and to understand the truth beyond appearances He preferred to keep a low profile but his empathy for suffering people led him to spearhead the first rock-and-roll super event for charity And despite his wealth and fame he was always delighted to slip on overalls and join in manual labor on his grounds At ease with holy men discussing the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita he was ever the bloke from Liverpool whose father drove a bus whose brothers were tradesmen and who had worked himself as an apprentice electrician until the day destiny called Tillery s engaging narrative depicts Harrison as a sincere seeker who acted out of genuine care for humanity and used his celebrity to be of service in the world Fans of all generations will treasure this book for the inspiring portrayal it gives of their beloved quiet BeatleCorn Flakes with John Lennon: And Other Tales from a Rock 'n' Roll Life
By Robert Hilburn. 2009
Robert Hilburn's storied career as a rock critic has allowed him a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of some of…
the most iconic figures of our time. He was the only music critic to visit Folsom Prison with Johnny Cash. He met John Lennon during his lost weekend period in Los Angeles and they became friends. Bob Dylan granted him his only interviews during his "born-again" period and the occasion of his 50th birthday. Michael Jackson invited Hilburn to watch cartoons with him in his bedroom. When Springsteen took to playing only old hits, Hilburn scolded him for turning his legendary concerts into oldies revues, and Springsteen changed his set list. In this totally unique account of the symbiotic relationship between critic and musical artist, Hilburn reflects on the ways in which he has changed and been changed by the subjects he's covered; Bono weighs in with an introduction about how Hilburn's criticism influenced and altered his own development as a musician. Corn Flakes with John Lennon is more than about one man's adventures in rock and roll: It's the gripping and untold story of how popular music reshapes the way we think about the world and helps to define the modern American character.Let Your Voice Be Heard: The Life and Times of Pete Seeger
By Anita Silvey. 2016
Pete Seeger, the iconic folk musician and multiple Grammy winner, discovered early in life that what he wanted to do…
was make music. His amazing career as singer, songwriter, and banjo player spanned seven decades, and included both low points (being charged with contempt of Congress) and highlights (receiving the Kennedy Center Honor from President Clinton). An activist and protester, Seeger crusaded for the rights of labor, the rights of people of color, and the First Amendment right to let his voice be heard, and launched the successful campaign to clean up the Hudson River. Archival photographs and prints, source notes, bibliography, index.The Great Gould
By Peter Goddard. 2017
A startling new portrait of Gould including never-before-seen material Glenn Gould s astonishing recordings deliver…
that unmistakable jolt of genius to each generation newly discovering the great Canadian pianist With the support of the Glenn Gould Estate Peter Goddard draws on his own interviews with Gould and on new and in some cases overlooked sources to present a freshly revealing portrait of Gould s unsettled life his radical decision to quit concertizing his career as a radio innovator and his deep response to the Canadian environment Sci-fi and hi-fi hockey and Petula Clark Elvis jazz chess the Beatles and sex all these inform this exploration of the pianist s far-reaching imagination There is even a touching account of the only piano lesson Gould ever gave This is the perfect gift for anyone new to classical music and those already immersed in it for those with an interest in Canadian music in Glenn Gould himself and in what led to The Goldberg Variations one of the greatest recordings in music historyMacMillan on Music: Essays by Sir Ernest MacMillan
By Carl Morey, Ernest Macmillan. 1997
In addition to his activities as conductor, administrator, educator, composer, and organist, Sir Ernest MacMillan (1893-1973) found time to write…
more than one hundred essays and lectures on music. Always ready to use his enormous prestige to further the causes of music, MacMillan took every opportunity to admonish Canadians to develop our own composers, to honour our own performers, to educate our children musically, and to offer opportunities for all to hear, learn about, and enjoy great music.This selection of twenty essays and lectures covers the period from 1928 to 1964, and ranges over the gamut of MacMillan’s life and interests: the cause of the Canadian composer; music education for adults as well as children; critical reviews; his early years as an organist; internment in a German prison camp during the First World War; Shakespeare and music; church music; and the lighter side in two humorous send-ups of academic lectures on Bach and Wagner. Here is a panorama of music over thirty-five years at mid-century, through the eyes of one of Canada’s most brilliant and all-embracing musicians.Gods of the Hammer: The Teenage Head Story (Exploded Views)
By Geoff Pevere. 2014
'Teenage Head changed the face of music in this country. I would not be who I am today without their…
first record ... In 1979 they were the only band that mattered.' - Hugh Dillon In the late 1970s and early 1980s, no Canadian band rocked harder, louder or to more hardcore fans than Hamilton, Ontario's own Teenage Head. Although usually lumped in the dubiously inevitable 'punk rock' category of the day, this high--energy quartet --consisting of four guys who'd known each other since high school --were really only punk by association. In essence they were a full--on, balls--to--the--wall, three--chord, kick--out--the--jams band that obliterated categories and labels with the sheer force of their sonic assault, and everywhere they played they converted the merely curious to the insanely devoted. And they almost became world famous. Almost. This is their story, told in full and for the first time, and by those who lived to tell the tale. Praise for Gods of the Hammer: 'A riot of a good read on Teenage Head ... the writing is fast-paced and lively, told from the laudatory perspective of a frustrated fan trying to explain why such a great band never got its due.' - The Hamilton Spectator 'I loved it! Wanted it to last forever! Geoff Pevere has done an ace portrait of all that is great and dirty in rock and roll.' - Bruce McDonald 'Pevere's is an on-the-ground fan's account of how the band enamoured a country and how if just that one last, special piece fell into place -- if they were managed better, if an American record deal came sooner, if guitarist Gord Lewis hadn't been laid up for half a year at their very peak by a back-breaking car accident -- songs like "Picture My Face" and "Let's Shake" would be played before face-offs and stocked in jukeboxes from St. John's to San Francisco. The Head were always just a centimetre away from super-stardom. To a generation of hip music fans, they're as classic as The Cars, but instead of ubiquity, their story is a distinctly Canadian Almost Famous.' - Chart Attack Praise for Geoff Pevere: 'After almost 30 years of writing about the movies, Geoff Pevere's anti-establishment views are just as strong as ever, but now he wears them as comfortably as an old leather jacket. He has always been more interested in broadening people's interests than in trying to narrow them. In an age with almost unlimited access to film, just one stream in an onrushing tide of media, this is daring. For the boy who once had to wait months to see Citizen Kane, however, it's simply a gesture of generosity.' -- Toronto Screen ShotLouis Armstrong, Master of Modernism
By Thomas Brothers. 2009
Finalist for the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in Biography. "Profoundly evocative and altogether admirable...The writing and detail are so brilliant that…
I found the volume revelatory." --Tim Page, Washington Post Nearly 100 years after bursting onto Chicago's music scene under the tutelage of Joe "King" Oliver, Louis Armstrong is recognized as one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. A trumpet virtuoso, seductive crooner, and consummate entertainer, Armstrong laid the foundation for the future of jazz with his stylistic innovations, but his story would be incomplete without examining how he struggled in a society seething with brutally racist ideologies, laws, and practices. Thomas Brothers picks up where he left off with the acclaimed Louis Armstrong's New Orleans, following the story of the great jazz musician into his most creatively fertile years in the 1920s and early 1930s, when Armstrong created not one but two modern musical styles. Brothers wields his own tremendous skill in making the connections between history and music accessible to everyone as Armstrong shucks and jives across the page. Through Brothers's expert ears and eyes we meet an Armstrong whose quickness and sureness, so evident in his performances, served him well in his encounters with racism while his music soared across the airwaves into homes all over America. Louis Armstrong, Master of Modernism blends cultural history, musical scholarship, and personal accounts from Armstrong's contemporaries to reveal his enduring contributions to jazz and popular music at a time when he and his bandmates couldn't count on food or even a friendly face on their travels across the country. Thomas Brothers combines an intimate knowledge of Armstrong's life with the boldness to examine his place in such a racially charged landscape. In vivid prose and with vibrant photographs, Brothers illuminates the life and work of the man many consider to be the greatest American musician of the twentieth century.What Would Dolly Do?: How to Be a Diamond in a Rhinestone World
By Lauren Marino. 2018
A spirited homage to Dolly Parton that captures the unique humor, no-nonsense wisdom, flash, and sass of one of America's…
most iconic stars.One of twelve children raised in a shack in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Dolly Parton grew to become an international superstar famous for classic songs such as "Jolene," "9 to 5," "The Coat of Many Colors," and "I Will Always Love You." She is a reflection of the American dream, a role model for the ages, and a mentor to a whole new generation of entertainers. There is much to be learned from her unique brand, her big heart and spirituality, her grit and work ethic.This lively, illustrated book--part biography, part inspiration, part words of wisdom and life lessons--highlights the very best of the "Dolly Mama," from her quotable Dollyisms, unrelenting positivity, and powerful spirituality, to her belief in the human ability to overcome adversity. Drawing on Dolly's two autobiographies, cookbooks and songs; as well as artifacts; books by her family members; biographies; and decades worth of television, print interviews and performances, What Would Dolly Do? shows you how to tap into your Inner Dolly with confidence, faith, and humor.A Cole Porter Companion
By Susan Forscher Weiss, Matthew Shaftel, Don M. Randel. 2016
Balancing sophisticated melodies and irresistible rhythms with lyrics by turns cynical and passionate, Cole Porter sent American song soaring on…
gossamer wings. Timeless works like "I Get a Kick Out of You" and "At Long Last Love" made him an essential figure in the soundtrack of a century and earned him adoration from generations of music lovers. In A Cole Porter Companion , a parade of performers and scholars offers essays on little-known aspects of the master tunesmith's life and art. Here are Porter's days as a Yale wunderkind and his nights as the exemplar of louche living; the triumph of Kiss Me Kate and shocking failure of You Never Know ; and his spinning rhythmic genius and a turkey dinner into "You're the Top" while cultural and economic forces take "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" in unforeseen directions. Other entries explore notes on ongoing Porter scholarship and delve into his formative works, performing career, and long-overlooked contributions to media as varied as film and ballet. Prepared with the cooperation of the Porter archives, A Cole Porter Companion is an invaluable guide for the fans and scholars of this beloved American genius.Strayhorn
By Inc, Contributions by David Hajdu, Walter van de Leur, Robert Levi, Bruce Rastrelli, Gregory A Morris Edited by A Alyce Claerbaut, David Schlesinger. 2015
Strayhorn: An Illustrated Life is a stunning collection of essays, photographs, and ephemera celebrating Billy Strayhorn, one of the most…
significant yet under-appreciated contributors to 20th century American music. Released in commemoration of Strayhorn's centennial, this luxurious coffee-table book offers intimate details of the composer's life from musicians, scholars, and Strayhorn's closest relatives. Perhaps best known for his 28-year collaborative role as Duke Ellington's "writing and arranging companion," Strayhorn has emerged in recent years as an even more meritorious force in shaping the jazz canon. Strayhorn begins by describing Billy's abusive upbringing and early success, and goes on to cover his music, family, intellectual pursuits, involvement with civil rights, and open homosexuality. Strayhorn features contributions from Strayhorn's biographer David Hajdu, film director Rob Levi, music scholar Walter van de Leur, as well as commentary from jazz greats like Lena Horne, Clark Terry, Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson, Terell Stafford, Herb Jeffries, and more. With lush photography and rare memorabilia like handwritten scores, this is a book to be treasured by jazz aficionados and music lovers everywhere. Enthralling and visually captivating, Strayhorn: An Illustrated Life lauds a beloved jazz legend and captures a prodigious legacy that will influence generations to come.Old Records Never Die: One Man's Quest for His Vinyl and His Past
By Eric Spitznagel, Jeff Tweedy. 2016
Foreword by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy"Memories are far more indelible when married to the physical world, and Spitznagel proves the point…
in this vivid book. We love vinyl records because they combine the tactile, the visual, the seeable effects of age and care and carelessless. When he searches for the records he lost and sold, Spitznagel is trying to return to a tangible past, and he details that process with great sensitivity and impact."--Dave Eggers, author of The CircleHigh Fidelity meets Killing Yourself to Live in this memoir of one man's search for his lost record collection. As he finds himself within spitting distance of middle-age, journalist Eric Spitznagel feels acutely the loss of...something. Freedom? Maybe. Coolness? Could be. The records he sold in a financial pinch? Definitely. To find out for sure, he sets out on a quest to find the original vinyl artifacts from his past. Not just copies. The exact same records: The Bon Jovi record with his first girlfriend's phone number scrawled on the front sleeve. The KISS Alive II he once shared with his little brother. The Replacements Let It Be he's pretty sure, 20 years later, would still smell like weed. As he embarks on his hero's journey, he reminisces about the actual records, the music, and the people he listened to it with--old girlfriends, his high school pals, and, most poignantly, his father and his young son. He explores the magic of music and memory as he interweaves his adventures in record- culture with questions about our connection to our past, whether we can ever recapture it, and whether we would want to if we could.From the Trade Paperback edition.Chasing the Light
By Mark Allister. 2014
"Cloud Cult's grand, unkempt indie rock is at once jam band, emo, and avant-garde. Their songs, born out of personal…
tragedy, are otherworldly lessons in being human." --Pitchfork During the past decade, Minnesota-grown band Cloud Cult has become one of the most inspirational indie bands, with a deeply devoted fan base and an approach to music and the environment that is hard not to admire. Beyond a musical biography, Chasing the Light tells the story of the heartbreaking yet affirming journey of lead singer and songwriter Craig Minowa and delves into the career of the band known by music lovers as the least cynical and most idealistic band in the country.Tracing Cloud Cult's rise to critical acclaim, author Mark Allister details the band's defining moments, beginning with the death of Craig and Connie Minowa's two-year-old son and the hundreds of songs that grew out of the tragic loss. Allister describes the band's unique philosophy and principles, including how Minowa created a zero carbon footprint for the band's recording and touring, adopting DIY and green-sustainable practices well before the ideas became mainstream. Allister also presents a first-person account of a day in the life of a quintessential indie band and conveys the immense emotional impact of Cloud Cult's albums and live shows. Described by a fan in the book as "the anthem for the soul searcher in us all," Cloud Cult's music and message are both stirring and sincere.Featuring rarely seen photos from Cloud Cult's history and passionate testimonials by fans, Chasing the Light is a testament to the profound influence one band's personal evolution can have on its followers and on indie rock aficionados in search of beauty, meaning, and redemption.Music from the True Vine: Mike Seeger's Life and Musical Journey
By Bill C. Malone. 2003
A musician, documentarian, scholar, and one of the founding members of the influential folk revival group New Lost City Ramblers,…
Mike Seeger (1933-2009) spent more than fifty years collecting, performing, and commemorating the culture and folk music of white and black southerners, which he called "music from the true vine. " In this fascinating biography, Bill Malone explores the life and musical contributions of folk artist Seeger, son of musicologists Charles and Ruth Crawford Seeger and brother of folksingers Pete and Peggy Seeger. Malone argues that Seeger, while not as well known as his brother, may be more important to the history of American music through his work in identifying and giving voice to the people from whom the folk revival borrowed its songs. Seeger recorded and produced over forty albums, including the work of artists such as Libba Cotton, Tommy Jarrell, Dock Boggs, and Maybelle Carter. In 1958, with an ambition to recreate the southern string bands of the twenties, he formed the New Lost City Ramblers, helping to inspire the urban folk revival of the sixties. Music from the True Vinepresents Seeger as a gatekeeper of American roots music and culture, showing why generations of musicians and fans of traditional music regard him as a mentor and an inspiration.Backstreet Boys
By Anna Louise Golden. 1998
When they say Quit Playing Games With My Heart, you better listen-- 'cause they're the Backstreet Boys, one of the…
hottest boy-bands ever to take the stage. These five ultra-fine guys have won the hearts of millions. So step back into their awesome world and see what made them tick at this exciting, early stage of their careers. An insider's look back at the band: Howie Dorough was the peacemaker of the group. But watch out-this flirtatious hunk was also known as the "Latin lover." Kevin Richardson, as the group's gorgeous oldest member, sometimes had to be the responsible one. Nick Carter, the band's youngest member, wasn't called "Chaos" for nothing-- this blond-haired, blue-eyed cutie was a major prankster! Brian Littrell, a big-time hottie, was the comedian of the bunch-- Jim Carrey was his idol, and he loved to play practical jokes. AJ McLean, deeply romantic-- he wrote the band's love ballads, and this sexy songster was rarely seen without his trademark sunglasses.Fall in love all over again with the Backstreet Boys as they celebrate more than twenty years of top-charting success.Monsieur de Saint-George
By Alain Guédé, Gilda M. Roberts. 1999
The first full biography of one of the greatest figures of eighteenth-century Europe, known in his time as the "Black…
Mozart"Virtually forgotten until now, his life is the stuff of legend. Born in 1739 in Guadeloupe to a slave mother and a French noble father, he became the finest swordsman of his age, an insider at the doomed court of Louis XVI, and, most of all, a virtuosic musician. A violinist, he directed the Olympic Society of Concerts, which was considered the finest in Europe in an age of great musicians, including Haydn, from whom he commissioned a symphony, and Mozart, to whom he was often compared. He also became the first Freemason of color, embracing the French Revolution with the belief that it would end the racism against which-despite his illustrious achievements-he struggled his whole life. This is the life of Joseph Bologne, known variously as Monsieur de Saint-George, the "Black Mozart," and, because of his origins, "the American." Alain Guédé offers a fascinating account of this extraordinary individual, whose musical compositions are at long last being revived and whose story will never again be forgotten.Marilyn Manson
By Kurt Reighley. 1998
For the public, the triumph of Marilyn Manson happened in the blink of an eye, beginning with the debut of…
their 1994 "Album Portrait of an American Family", an event which led to a cover on "Rolling Stone" and the group's MTV smash "Sweet Dreams". This biography offers an all-encompassing look at the success of this controversial band.Sweet Dreams Are Made of This
By Dave Stewart. 2016
A no-holds-barred look into the remarkable life and career of the prolific musician, songwriter, and producer behind Eurythmics and dozens…
of pop hits. Dave Stewart's life has been a wild ride--one filled with music, constant reinvention, and the never-ending drive to create. Growing up in industrial northern England, he left home for the gritty London streets of the seventies, where he began collaborating and performing with various musicians, including a young waitress named Annie Lennox. The chemistry between Stewart and Lennox was undeniable, and an intense romance developed. While their passion proved too much offstage, they thrived musically and developed their own sound. They called themselves Eurythmics and launched into global stardom with the massively popular album Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). For the first time, Stewart shares the incredible, high-octane stories of his life in music--the drug-fueled adventures, the A-list collaborations and relationships, and the creative process that brought us blockbusters from Eurythmics like " Here Comes the Rain Again" and "Would I Lie to You" as well as Tom Petty's "Don't Come Around Here No More," No Doubt's "Underneath It All," Golden Globe winner "Old Habits Die Hard" with Mick Jagger, and many more. From great friendships and creative partnerships including the group SuperHeavy along with Jagger, Joss Stone, Damian Marley, and A. R. Rahman, to inspired performances and intimate moments in the studio--Stewart highlights the musicians he admires and calls friends, from Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, Elton John, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr to Bono, Bon Jovi, and Katy Perry. With a behind-the-scenes look at Stewart's innovative endeavors that keep him on the cutting-edge of the music business, Sweet Dreams Are Made of This is a one-of-a-kind portrait of the creative heart of one of its most gifted and enterprising contributors.From the Hardcover edition.A Man Called Destruction
By Holly George-Warren. 2014
The first biography of the artist who "essentially invented indie and alternative rock" (Spin)A brilliant and influential songwriter, vocalist, and…
guitarist, the charismatic Alex Chilton was more than a rock star--he was a true cult icon. Awardwinning music writer Holly George-Warren's A Man Called Destruction is the first biography of this enigmatic artist, who died in 2010. Covering Chilton's life from his early work with the charttopping Box Tops and the seminal power-pop band Big Star to his experiments with punk and roots music and his sprawling solo career, A Man Called Destruction is the story of a musical icon and a richly detailed chronicle of pop music's evolution, from the mid-1960s through today's indie rock.Wild Tales
By Graham Nash. 2013
This ebook includes 4 videos, 34 audio clips, and 11 additional photos from Graham Nash's personal collection. Audio and video…
content does not play on all reading devices. Check your user manual for details.From Graham Nash--the legendary musician and founding member of the iconic bands Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Hollies--comes a candid and riveting autobiography that belongs on the reading list of every classic rock fan. Graham Nash's songs defined a generation and helped shape the history of rock and roll--he's written over 200 songs, including such classic hits as "Carrie Anne," "On A Carousel," "Simple Man," "Our House," "Marrakesh Express," and "Teach Your Children." From the opening salvos of the British Rock Revolution to the last shudders of Woodstock, he has rocked and rolled wherever music mattered. Now Graham is ready to tell his story: his lower-class childhood in post-war England, his early days in the British Invasion group The Hollies; becoming the lover and muse of Joni Mitchell during the halcyon years, when both produced their most introspective and important work; meeting Stephen Stills and David Crosby and reaching superstardom with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and his enduring career as a solo musician and political activist. Nash has valuable insights into a world and time many think they know from the outside but few have experienced at its epicenter, and equally wonderful anecdotes about the people around him: the Beatles, the Stones, Hendrix, Cass Elliot, Dylan, and other rock luminaries. From London to Laurel Canyon and beyond, Wild Tales is a revealing look back at an extraordinary life--with all the highs and the lows; the love, the sex, and the jealousy; the politics; the drugs; the insanity--and the sanity--of a magical era of music.Sinatra
By James Kaplan. 2015
Just in time for the Chairman's centennial, the endlessly absorbing sequel to James Kaplan's bestselling Frank: The Voice--finally the definitive…
biography that Frank Sinatra, justly termed "The Entertainer of the Century," deserves and requires. Like Peter Guralnick on Elvis, Kaplan goes behind the legend to give us the man in full, in his many guises and aspects: peerless singer, (sometimes) powerful actor, business mogul, tireless lover, and associate of the powerful and infamous. In 2010's Frank: The Voice, James Kaplan, in rich, distinctive, compulsively readable prose, told the story of Frank Sinatra's meteoric rise to fame, subsequent failures, and reinvention as a star of live performance and screen. The story of "Ol' Blue Eyes" continues with Sinatra: The Chairman, picking up the day after Frank claimed his Academy Award in 1954 and had reestablished himself as the top recording artist in music. Frank's life post-Oscar was incredibly dense: in between recording albums and singles, he often shot four or five movies a year; did TV show and nightclub appearances; started his own label, Reprise; and juggled his considerable commercial ventures (movie production, the restaurant business, even prizefighter management) alongside his famous and sometimes notorious social activities and commitments.From the Hardcover edition.