Biography: arts and entertainment Books

Book SynopsisBruno Mars has sold over 115 million records worldwide as a singer, producer and songwriter. This book documents his childhood in Honolulu and how he found fame from the age of four.

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Book SynopsisJoel McIver's acclaimed Black Sabbath biography, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, concluded in 2011 that its subjects were at a crossroads. Could Ozzy, Tony, Geezer and Bill manage after over 40 years in business to get back together one more time? After all, the veteran heavy metal musicians were grieving for their fallen comrade Ronnie James Dio and about to face a devastating medical diagnosis for one of their own. McIver's brand-new, updated volume brings the story up to date with the tale of Sabbath's near-miraculous return to form with the Rick Rubin-produced 13 album, which topped charts worldwide on its release in 2013. In true Sabbath style, however, nothing went entirely to plan, with internal arguments, last-minute band-member replacements -- and a genuine fear that this may be Sabbath's very last shot at glory.

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Book SynopsisIn this revised edition of his definitive biography of Dolly Parton, Stephen Miller has updated his original book on the superstar. Going behind the larger-than-life image to discover what makes Dolly tick, Miller gets to the core of a remarkable woman from a poor East Tennessee background who made it in the male-dominated world of Sixties Nashville and went on to build a respectable movie career. Talking to Dolly's family members, musicians and producers, the author explores Dolly's private life, including her closely-guarded relationships with her husband of nearly fifty years, Carl Dean, and her lifelong friend Judy Ogle. What emerges is a unique portrait of a strong woman who took control of her life, her music and a successful business career with resolute determination. Dolly loves making jokes at her own expense; perhaps the best joke has been how one of America's great singer-songwriters became a legend by being serious about her music while being frivolous about her image.

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Book SynopsisKirsty MacColl led a dazzling life - tender, creative, heroic and full of love. This book, by her mother Jean MacColl, charts with moving insight Kirsty's early years and celebrates her brilliant career at the front rank of the music business in the 1980s and 1990s with such hits as the Pogues collaboration 'Fairytale of New York'. It mourns her tragic and untimely death - killed by a speedboat in Mexican waters in December 2000. It also tells, with heartfelt truth, the shocking story of the elaborate cover-up and gross miscarriage of justice that followed and appeals for justice to be done in her name.Trade Review'A moving and beautiful portrait' - DAILY MAIL

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Book SynopsisHe was known as The Golden Torso, the underwear model who famously dated Keira Knightley. But Jamie Dornan has always dreamed of being an actor - and as star of the hotly-anticipated Fifty Shades of Grey movie he has finally sealed his position in Hollywood. From his role as S&M hero Christian Grey in the adaptation of EL James' hit novel to playing a serial killer in BBC series The Fall and Abe Goffe in New Worlds, Jamie is carving a name for himself playing characters with a serious passionate side. But the path to success has been far from easy for the Northern Irish actor. His personal life has had as many twists and turns, highs and devastating lows as the shows that are making him famous. Son of a doctor, Jamie and his two sisters had what looked like a charmed childhood growing up in a sprawling family home in an affluent area of Belfast, attending a top boarding school with dreams of treading the boards like his legendary great aunt Greer Garson. But looks can be deceiving and behind the sports trophies and amateur acting triumphs, there was a series of personal tragedies, the burden of which Jamie still carries with him today. He later struggled to cope with life in the limelight as an internationally famous model in his twenties dating an actress and winning hordes of female fans the world over posing alongside Kate Moss and Eva Mendes. Now married and father to a baby daughter, the Bafta-nominated star has a new set of challenges on his hands. In this, his first biography, Louise Ford, reveals Jamie's successes and struggles both on and off screen and explores what the future holds for the model turned actor who once doubted he could ever have it all.

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Book SynopsisMichael Ball is more than a Laurence Olivier Award winner and multiplatinum recording artist; he holds the unique status of being Britain's foremost musical theatre actor. Testimony to his success is the huge cult following he has built ...not least among theatre audiences. From his debut in London's West End, with a superb performance in the original 1985 cast of Les Miserables, to unqualified acclaim in Aspects Of Love, Passion, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and more recently in Hairspray and Sweeney Todd. Michael's silky smooth voice and boyish charms have seduced audiences everywhere, a popularity that has led to more than 15 sought-after solo albums and the hit single 'Love Changes Everything'. Television and radio have not been slow in courting his talents, from his first flirtation with the small screen and a rather embarrassing appearance in the ITV soap Coronation Street to hosting his own successful chat shows. He even represented Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992. Andrew Lloyd Webber, understated as ever, joked: 'He's a top man at what he does - and he has a rather nice taste in Savile Row suits.' But there is so much more to Michael than curly-haired smiles and smartly-dressed dulcet tones. In this first ever biography of the star, author Willie Robertson provides a comprehensive and compelling insight into the legend that is Michael Ball. A must read for any fan!

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Book SynopsisBENEDICT CUMBERBATCH has played detective and monster, barrister and scientist, politician and painter, comic and spy. Still only in his thirties, he has become one of Britain's foremost acting talents, excelling in theatre, television, radio and cinema. With a string of starring and supporting roles, he has portrayed contemporary icons, historical figures and fictional favourites, from Stephen Hawking, to William Pitt the Younger, to Frankenstein. He has become a radio comedy staple too, as the bungling airline pilot Captain Martin Crieff, in Radio 4's Cabin Pressure. But inevitably, he is still best known for his idiosyncratic and boldly 21st century incarnation of Sherlock Holmes in the BBC TV series, Sherlock. In this book, Justin Lewis traces Benedict Cumberbatch's career to date, from his early promise in Harrow School plays, through his first supporting roles in film, theatre and TV, to national and international acclaim. He examines his considerable contributions not only to Sherlock, but also to Sir Tom Stoppard's adaptation of Parade's End on television, and to feature films such as Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Star Trek Into Darkness and War Horse.

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Book SynopsisCHRIS PRATT is now one of the world's most sought-after actors. As the breakout star of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and The Lego Movie (two of 2014's biggest box-office hits), as well as landing the lead role in the 2015 Jurassic Park franchise re-boot, Jurassic World, his meteoric rise to fame is proof that anything is possible in Hollywood. Chris's journey to the movie-star A-list may just make him the ultimate 'zero to hero', but it certainly wasn't an overnight success story. A chance encounter transformed Chris's life from living in a van and waiting tables to make enough money to survive, to the bright lights of Los Angeles and his first tentative steps into the acting world. After years as a supporting player in both comedy and dramatic roles, on television (Everwood, Parks and Recreation) and in movies (The Five-Year Engagement, Delivery Man), Chris finally started to attract superstar buzz after appearing in three Best Picture Oscar-nominated films between 2011 and 2013. Along the way he's shown that nice guys don't always finish last, juggling a successful movie career and life as a devoted family man, and somehow finding time to develop killer abs along the way.

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Book SynopsisPaul Hollywood is without doubt the man of the moment in British baking. His luxurious dough recipes have been single-handedly responsible for the mass ignition of ovens across the UK since the advent of The Great British Bake Off. Admired for his straighttalking style and amazing technical knowledge, Paul's judging partnership with Mary Berry has been described as one of television's best ever. Having suffered a rocky period in the USA - both professionally and personally - Hollywood is now back in England, once again enjoying the astounding success of The Great British Bake Off and his own touring shows. What's more, with his marriage fully reconciled and his wife Alexandra enjoying cooking success of her own, the sky truly is the limit for Paul Hollywood. But then, he was always destined for great things. Descended from a line of illustrious bakers, Hollywood originally trained as a sculptor, giving him the deftly skilful hands his viewers delight in watching. From kneading dough as a 17-year-old apprentice to his father to working as head baker at the prestigious Dorchester Hotel, his professional career is legendary. For the first time, this compelling biography sheds light on the man behind the counter, from his youth on Merseyside to the sunny climes of Cyprus and beyond. Journalist A S Dagnell delves deep into Paul Hollywood's story and charts the ingredients that have shaped this enigmatic character into the dazzlingly talented king of British baking.

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Book SynopsisOne of the most iconic guitarists of all-time, his staggering performance on Guns N' Roses' Appetite For Destruction heralded the arrival of a brand new superstar name in rock. His complex relationship with frontman Axl Rose and the phenomenal music that emerged from that band cemented his reputation in rock's history books; since leaving G N' R, however, Slash has masterfully plied his trade through a series of solo projects and high profile guest appearances. This is the first book to examine the complete story of Slash, from his humble roots in suburban London in the late Sixties, to his thunderous ride through the alleys and red carpets of California to his present day success with Velvet Revolver. The book also takes a fresh look at the Guns N' Roses saga and examines all of Slash's other projects in exhaustive detail. Paul Stenning is the author of several books on rock music and is a regular contributor to the pages of Metal Maniacs, Terrorizer, Alternative Press and Record Collector. He is the author of the best-selling book on Guns N' Roses, The Band That Time Forgot as well as biographies of AC/DC, Iron Maiden and My Chemical Romance.

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Book SynopsisThis inspirational autobiography opens a window on the uniquely individual life of Vadim Muntagirov, one of the most celebrated dancers of our time. Vadim left home aged 10 to enter full time ballet training, arrived at The Royal Ballet School via the Prix de Lausanne aged 16 with no English, was cast as Albrecht in English National Ballet's Giselle aged 19 and danced Siegfried in Swan Lake at The Royal Albert Hall to considerable acclaim less than a year after graduating. Since then, with an expanded repertoire as a Principal with The Royal Ballet and in parallel demand as an international guest, Vadim's early promise has translated into a stellar career. Nicknamed Vadream, he is hugely admired and very much loved by audiences at home and abroad. Vadim's story affords a real insight into the intense work and level of commitment needed to rise to the top in ballet - and stay there. It enables readers to see the experiences which have shaped him, including the lasting effect of separation from his family, his rigorous early training, his discovery of a world beyond his homeland, and the unstinting support he has received in his adopted country as a student and during his years in the profession. This is a book which looks 'behind the scenes' and 'beyond the interviews' to reveal what is involved in becoming and being a Principal dancer, including the privilege of working with many ballet luminaries, the more informal moments, and the many etceteras which come with the job. But Vadim makes it about so much more than the daily 'ins and outs' as he shares his reactions, thoughts and emotions in a way which allows others to get to know him as a person.Table of ContentsPART ONE: STARTING POINTS [1990–2009] 1. A Child of the Urals 2. Six Years in Perm 3. An ‘Escape Route’ Emerges 4. The Leap to London PART TWO: FROM FIRST ARTIST TO LEAD PRINCIPAL [2009–2014] Repertoire with English National Ballet 5. In at the Deep End 6. Onwards and Upwards 7. All Change 8. An ENB Coda PART THREE: ROYAL BALLET MOMENTUM [2014–2022] Repertoire with The Royal Ballet 9. More Than Another Postcode 10. Diverse Debuts 11. On the Day of a Show 12. A Career on Hold 13. Nine Years and Counting PART FOUR: IT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY 14. Here, There and Everywhere 15. Teaching Is Learning Too 16. Beyond the Stage Door

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Book SynopsisThe story of Coco Chanel in her own words, as told by her to Paul Morand - in a Deluxe special edition, illustrated by Karl Lagerfeld and authorised by Chanel Told in her own words, Coco Chanel's memories offer a rare glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential women in fashion history. During a visit to St. Moritz at the end of World War II, Chanel shared intimate details of her life, loves and fashion philosophy with her life-long friend, Paul Morand. Only coming to light after Chanel's death, her intimate recollections reveal the secrets behind her success and the captivating charm that made her a true icon The Allure of Chanel attracted the attention of Karl Lagerfeld, who embellished it with seventy-three drawings, sketched for this special illustrated edition.Trade Review'This enchanting, tiny book is the closest anyone can get to a face-to-face with Coco. It's written in her voice and in her words, and though it's full of lies, omissions and contradictions, there's enough raw truth in it to reflect the extraordinary woman who was Chanel, even though glimpsed shard by shard in a broken mirror' - Spectator'Morand was the all-round aesthete' - Nicholas Lezard'Morand was a citizen of the world, with a sharp eye and a neat turn of phrase' - The Tablet

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Book SynopsisIn this acclaimed autobiography, John Fraser takes us from the council estates of prewar Glasgow to the glamour of 1960 s Hollywood and beyond. Funny, honest and acutely observant about himself, his family and his friends, John Fraser presents such legendary figures as Rudolf Nureyev, Hedy Lamarr, Dirk Bogarde and Bette Davis in a new and startling light. "Trade Review"'The best showbusiness autobiography I have ever read' Sunday Express 'A Supa-candid-gossip-expo-valid-dose-worth of Dirk, Sophia, Bette and Rudy in the sixties. Grab and gobble it!' Richard E Grant"

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Book SynopsisYet in October 2008, during a press interview to promote the critically acclaimed Two Lovers, Phoenix made a shock announcement that he was to retire from acting, declining any future film roles in a bid to reinvent himself as a bona fide hip-hop musician. The resulting documentary, I'm Still Here, turned out to be one of the most extraordinary and memorable pieces of performance art ever committed to film. Born in 1974, Phoenix was a natural performer from an early age, regularly busking on the streets of New York City with his multi-talented siblings. Following in the footsteps of his older brother River, Joaquin decided on a career in acting, and his breakthrough performance alongside Nicole Kidman in To Die For confirmed him as the most intriguing actor of his generation. 13 years later, Phoenix undertook his most challenging role to date: playing a completely reinvented version of himself in Casey Affleck's I'm Still Here. In this in-depth biography, Martin Howden traces the rise of this unique actor, from his early career as a child star, though to his Oscar nominated performance in Walk the Line, and subsequent "reinvention". Fascinating and compelling this is the first biography of one of the most complex actors working in film and the full story behind one of the most intriguing films ever to have come out of Hollywood.

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Book SynopsisHugh was born in Oxford, and his father, WGRM 'Ran' Laurie, was a doctor who won a gold medal in the coxless pairs at the 1948 Olympics. Hugh followed in his father's footsteps as a rower at Cambridge, but when he was forced to hang up his oars he joined the famous Cambridge Footlights and there began a career in comedy. It was at university that he met Stephen Fry, and the pair forged a hilarious partnership that continued through the 1980s and 1990s. Hugh has also enjoyed great success on the big screen; starring in Sense and Sensibility, 101 Dalmatians, Monsters vs Aliens and the three Stuart Little films. But it is the character of irascible doctor Gregory House, in the US TV drama House, that has brought global fame. He has won two Golden Globes for the role and received a prestigious Emmy nominations in 2005, and continues to receive critical acclaim for his performance in the show - especially for his near-perfect American accent. With worldwide fame and an OBE to his name, Hugh Laurie is undoubtedly one of Britain's best-loved actors.

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Book SynopsisMulti-award winning artist and indisputable queen of R&B, Rihanna is one of the most recognisable and successful singers in the world. With hits such as 'Umbrella', 'Take a Bow' and 'Don't Stop the Music', the beautiful Barbadian has gone from a talented young singer from a broken home, to a bestselling and Grammy award-winning superstar. Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born in Saint Michael, Barbados, in 1988. Moving to the United States at the tender age of 16, Rihanna became the youngest ever musician to sign for Def Jam records, after sending her demo to the then company head, Jay-Z. Her debut single 'Pon de Replay' went to Number 2 in both the UK and US single charts, with her subsequent album Music of the Sun becoming a global bestseller. Following the success of her debut, Rihanna went straight back into the studio to record her follow-up album with renowned R&B producer and singer, Ne-Yo. A Girl Like Me went platinum in both the UK and US and the lead singer 'SOS' became her biggest selling of her career. A live tour followed and her next three platinum-selling albums, Good Girl Gone Bad, Rated R and Loud, confirmed Rihanna as one of th emost exciting and successful artists on the planet.

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Book SynopsisAs aspiring youth footballer before injury forced him to reconsider his career, Smith left his hometown of Northampton at the age of 18 to study drama and creative writing at the University of East Anglia. An outstanding performance in the National Youth Theatre production of The Master and Margarita in 2003 brought him to the attention of an agent and earned him his first professional acting jobs, and his first television appearance came in 2006, in the BBC adaptation of Phillip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke. His first major role followed a year later, and 2007 also saw him debut in London's West End, starring in Fresh Kills, which he followed with a critically acclaimed performance as Henry in That Face. But Smith's biggest break came when he was cast in Doctor Who, first appearing in the show on 1 January 2010. Replacing the much-loved David Tennant was no mean feat for a relatively unknown actor like Matt Smith but he has risen to the challenge and received rave reviews from critics and viewers alike. This is the inside story of the Doctor and the rapid rise of the man behind the latest incarnation of the famous Time Lord.

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Book SynopsisHe's charismatic, talented and extremely sexy. His breathtaking performance as the latest James Bond won him legions of fans and proved that, as well as being an outstanding actor, he coud cut it as an action hero and redefine a cinematic icon to huge critical acclaim. This year, he will be thrust into the spotlight once more as he takes the lead role in the hotly anticipated remake of Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Having attended London's prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he hit the big time when he secured a role in the award-winning BBC drama Our Friends in the North. His subsequent roles in Layer Cake and Munich have cemented his position as one of the UK's finest actors.

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Book SynopsisJazz musician Bobby Hackett - 'one of the finest natural musicians in the business' according to Muggsy Spanier - began his career in the 1930s; it ended with his death in 1976. An extensively researched discography of the vast number of recorded sessions in which Hackett took part during these decades forms the essential core of this substantial book. It is prefaced with the fascinating biographical insights gathered from the articles, reviews, news stories, meetings and interviews which the editors accumulated as they worked, and illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs, advertising, and record labels and covers. Detailed indexes feature both the famous and the influential - Louis Armstrong, Eddie Condon, Jackie Gleason, Horace Heidt, Glenn Miller, Lee Wiley among them - and the lesser-known working musicians and artists of the era.Prompted by Hackett's death, this work of research started with hand-written index cards, and progressed through typewriters and several generations of word processors and computer operating systems; its publication is a realisation not only of Bobby Hackett's life in music, and place in a period of musical history, but also of an enthusiasm sustained through personal acquisitions, friendships and travel - and listening to a lot of jazz!Trade Review'[The] the 630-plus pages of this book (in a readable typeface, for which we give thanks) are detailed yet unfussy and thoroughly informative. It contains twenty rare photographs and an equal number of record label scans. The book is divided in three parts: after the acknowledgments, there is a fifty-page section of reminiscences ... as well as on-the-spot pieces about appearances of Hackett and bands from 1943 on. Hackett was an early recording/stereo equipment enthusiast, and Hulme has written an intriguing essay on that facet of his life. From there, a truly informative musical biography, organized chronologically, which offers reviews of performances, details of sessions, gigs, and recordings. I find such assemblages of detail fascinating (especially because Hulme and Whyatt offer reasoned research rather than conjecture or repetitions of debatable facts). The remainder of the book - some four hundred pages - is a beautifully clear, well-organized discography, ending with pages of "discographical mysteries," a bibliography, and two detailed indices. It is a worthy tribute to a musician whose work never disappoints... [and], because it's paperbound, is surprisingly affordable. I recommend it with the greatest enthusiasm.' Michael Steinman, jazzlives, March 2016; 'This book is an excellent reference work on a jazzman, whose name is familiar enough, but whose biographical details in other reference books are often sparse or restricted to a list of gigs and selected recordings. It's divided into two main parts: his life and his recordings. The first part is further sub-divided into sections on his instrument, his style, appreciations from those who knew and worked with him, and six decades of biographical material, all of which are usefully number-coded for easy cross referencing. The second part is an exhaustive discography, which details every recording session, commercial and private, that the authors have been able to trace, as well as the many broadcasts, ... legally or illegally recorded. One of the most interesting parts of the book is a short section devoted to other musicians' thoughts about Bobby Hackett. Alec Wilder describes him as "poet and essayist...tender and witty"; Dick Cary: "the most exciting fact...was that his solos were actually compositions..."; Lache Shaw describes his tone "as if a series of glorious church bells were being struck by a sensitive mallet." Hackett himself said of music in general: "Real greatness is in simplicity". That's as good an epitaph as any jazzman might expect.' From a Review by Max Easterman, VJM, 2015; 'Bobby Hackett's is a name that brings a smile to the face of almost everyone who loves mainstream jazz. ... He has a large number of devoted fans who still, almost forty years after he left the scene, listen often and raptly to his recordings. ... This volume was obviously a labor of love for the two authors. Their dedication to Hackett's legacy is impressive and appealing. It is a highly readable book, and will serve as an indispensable resource for those who are interested in exploring the music of Bobby Hackett. It is also likely to send you scurrying around looking for some gems that have escaped your attention.' Joe Lang, Jersey Jazz.

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Book SynopsisUntil now, Kathleen Ferrier has been a glorious voice, but through the pages of these fascinating letters and diaries, never previously published, we get to the real person. Fifty years ago, Kathleen Ferrier, the greatest lyric contralto Britain has ever produced, lost her courageous battle with breast cancer. Her name endures to this day, for she struck a chord with a wide-ranging public - in concerts, on records and on the radio - despite a career which lasted barely ten years. Within a decade this former telephone exchange operator was singing on stage at Covent Garden or before royalty at private parties. She was surely fun to know: this collection of 300+ letters and twelve years of her personal diaries give a sunny picture of her life in the muted post-war years. Her indefinable personality was a mix of extreme modesty and self-determined ambition, and a mischievously blunt sense of earthy Lancastrian humour. Until now, Kathleen Ferrier has been a glorious voice, but through the pages of these fascinating letters and diaries, never previously published, we getto the real person. CHRISTOPHER FIFIELD is foremost a conductor, but also a writer on music history (Grove, DNB, Viking Opera Guide, Oxford Companion to Music), and the author of two biographies, of Max Bruch (recently reissued by the Boydell Press) and Hans Richter.Trade ReviewFifty years on, a voice that still touches the heart. * GRAMOPHONE *A vivid self-portrait of a brave, secure woman in love with life and music, whose joie de vivre was palpable and supported both by a notable lack of inflated egoism and a singular sense of humour which rarely faltered, even toward the end. Anyone interested in Kathleen Ferrier's life and art, and the milieu of the Second World War years and their aftermath by which they were embraced, will find this welcome book required reading. It is above all, and despite the final descent, a celebration of living. * JOHN TALBOT, BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY NEWSLETTER *On closing [this book] with a terrible sadness, I'm a fan too... The secret is her voice - the plain-speaking tone of a Lancashire lass who was also an aesthete, a joker and an exemplary friend. These letters...chronicle everything, from whom she knocked around with - Britten, Pears, Barbirolli, Danny Kaye, Rex Harrison - to what she sang and what she greedily ate. -- Michael Church * FINANCIAL TIMES *Delightful letters and diaries. -- Rupert Christiansen * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Editing and presentation are as fine as anyone could wish and Fifield's introductions to each chapter could not be better written. -- Best Buy5 Stars * CLASSIC FM *

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Book SynopsisThe death of Joey Ramone in the summer of 2001 and Dee Dee Ramone in June 2002 provided ample evidence of the high regard that his band was held by fans and critics. Once regarded as a joke, their music little more than an adrenaline rush of one minute five second noise, The Ramones have come to be regarded as having influenced almost every star struck guitarist who knew just three chords and wanted to write a song.Trade Review"'...provides a fascinating insight into the boredom, ambition, conflicts and genius behind one of the best bands ever.' Total Guitar Magazine"

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Book SynopsisToo Much Too Soon is the definitive story of the most outrageous glam rock bands of them all - The New York Dolls. The Dolls, peddling trans-gender posturing and incendiary rock 'n' roll, were dumped by the record business after making just two albums. But their influence lived on when Malcolm McLaren injected the last of the Dolls' life blood into The Sex Pistols and changed pop forever. From punk to grunge, practically every new sensation in the contemporary rock scene has been a delayed reaction to the New York Dolls. Too Much Too Soon celebrates all the glorious sleaze and excess of the Dolls' brief auto-destruct career through interviews with the survivors, including band members, managers, roadies, groupies and hangers-on. This new edition takes the story up to the Doll's reformation for Morrissey's Meltdown in 2004 and the tragic death of Arthur Kane shortly afterwards. Illustrated and including a comprehensive discography.Trade ReviewIt's torture, yet compulsive. Kerrang!

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Book SynopsisOn 25th July, breaking news revealed that Michael Jackson, King of Pop, was dead. Fans and the media watched in shock as the story unfolded: doctors had lost the battle to save him after he had collapsed from a heart attack. In a cruel twist of fate, he had passed away before he got the chance to make his final curtain call in the form of 50 planned sell-out shows at London's O2 Arena. From a very young age, Michael's exceptional music talent was clear. He stood apart from his four brothers when they performed together as the Jackson 5 and, in 1974, he embarked upon what was to become a monumental solo career. A string of chart-busting albums and singles followed, with the Thriller album selling 47 million copies worldwide and yielding seven top-ten singles. It is belived that, in his lifetime, he sold around 750 million records, making him one of the most successful entertainers ever. This in-depth and affectionate biography traces the rise of the man, from child prodigy to tortured megastar. It is the definitive portrait of a pop legend whose strange and brilliant life will never be forgotten.

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Book SynopsisJeremy Clarkson found fame and fortune at the wheel of trailblazing BBC motoring series Top Gear. With its worldwide audience of over 250 million viewers, the show has garnered him praise and condemnation in equal measure for his forthright views on cyclists, environmentalists and road-safety campaigners. From causing traffic chaos on the roads of London to fisticuffs with Piers Morgan, driving 'fast and recklessly' through the Lincolnshire countryside - an area with one of the worst road death rates in Europe - to being on the receiving end of a meringue pie when he collected an honorary degree from Brunel University, Clarkson has lived life at breakneck speed. In this must-read biography for any Clarkson fan, his frank views and hilariously candid anecdotes appear alongside the vivid details of his remarkable life story.

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Book SynopsisLifting the lid on Lady Gaga aka Stefani Germanotta, find out all you ever wanted to know about the eccentric star. After being signed to and quickly dropped from Def Jam Records at age 19, Lady Gaga began performing in the rock music scene of New York City's Lower East Side. During this time, she was also working at Interscope Records as a songwriter. While at Interscope Records, Akon, after hearing Gaga sing, convinced Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine to sign her to a joint deal with the label and Akon's Kon Live Distribution label. Her debut album The Fame was released in August 2008 and was a huge success that went to number one in four countries. The album's first two singles, "Just Dance" and "Poker Face", have become international number-one hits, and the former was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 51st Grammy Awards. In 2009, after having opened for New Kids on the Block and the Pussycat Dolls, Lady Gaga embarked on her first headlining tour, The Fame Ball Tour, which has had countless rave reviews. Lady Gaga is inspired by glam rockers such as David Bowie and Queen, as well as pop singers such as Madonna and Michael Jackson. She is also inspired by fashion, which she has said is an essential component to her songwriting and performances. To date she has sold over 20 million digital singles and more than four million albums worldwide.

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Book SynopsisAmy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil's wild romance has gripped the nation. It has been a dramatic relationship from the start: the turbulent musical genius met the hedonistic likely lad in a north London boozer and together they have had a rollercoaster ride. But when Blake ended up in prison it was all over. Or so we thought - The story of Amy and Blake has been dominated by lurid stories of bust-ups, drugs and drama. Their worried parents feared daily that their children would die - even after they married in Florida. Every step of the way has been lived out in the unmerciful glare of the media and yet the couple seemed as unable to be without one another as much as they struggled to stay together. Following Blake's sentencing to a term in prison, Amy appeared ever more lost, interrupting chaotic live performances with heartfelt pleas for her other half. And yet, on his release, the pair divorced - This is the inside story of their rocky relationship.

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Book SynopsisLemmy Kilmister is founder, sole constant member, vocalist, bassist, songwriter and living legend. He has given Jake Brown unprecedented behind-the-scenes access into the writing and recording of the band's 26 albums. Together with insight from fellow band members, crew and producers, this features all the stories behind such albums as Ace of Spades, Bomber and Overkill.

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Book SynopsisTony Wilson was the TV reporter turned would-be music mogul whose life was more rock'n'roll than the bands he nurtured. He co-founded Factory Records and The Hacienda, he kick-started Joy Division, Happy Mondays and New Order and he was the inspiration for 24 Hour Party People. From a childhood growing up with a gay father and a domineering mother to his tragic death in 2007 after battling the NHS for a drug that could prolong his life, David Nolan investigates the man they called 'Mr Manchester'. Drawing on interviews with musicians, DJs, writers, actors, family and friends - including Wilson's partner Yvette Livesey - Nolan paints a picture of a driven, chaotic man whose influence is still felt today in music and television. Everybody knows the legend - Tony Wilson spent a lifetime creating it - for the first time, here's the truth.

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Book SynopsisFor nearly thirty years Lionel Richie has never looked back as a performer. From fronting his group the Commodores - the premier R&B pop unit of the seventies - he became the most popular singer/songwriter in the world by the eighties. A decade later he was the ultimate star entertainer with a 'nice guy' image. The "Lionel Richie" story is about a five-time Grammy winner who has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. For nine consecutive years he had no 1 singles in America, a feat matched only by Irving Berlin. It is also the story of two broken marriages, personal insecurities, near-death experiences and an insight into the man behind a success story that broke the rules. "Lionel Richie" is the first book written about Lionel Richie and the Commodores and draws on Sharon Davis' unique access to the Motown archive, her numerous in depth interviews with Richie as well as her time as the Comodores' publicist.Table of ContentsIntroduction Hello 1. Keep on Dancing 2. Machine Gun 3. Three Times a Lady 4. Endless Love 5. Truly 6. Hello 7. We are the World 8. Dancing on the Ceiling 9. Don't Wanna Lose You 10. Angel 11. Just for You Discography

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Book SynopsisLennie Tristano was one of jazz's most extraordinary innovators, possessing a superb piano technique and an awesome musical imagination. Unheralded by the general public, the blind pianist's work was revered by many jazz greats including the legendary Charlie Parker. Tristano's persuasive personality made him an ideal teacher, and he proved that (against the accepted theory of the time) jazz improvisation could be taught. His guidance played a big part in the development of many instrumentalists including saxophonists Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh and double-bassist Peter Ind. It is Ind's long, direct involvement with his subject that makes this such a revealing book: the story of an English musician going to New York to study with a neglected Jazz giant. In the process, Tristano's genius is examined and his reputation revalued, with Ind making a persuasive case for the pianist to be placed at the centre of jazz developments in the mid-20th century.Trade Review'Jazz Visions is a remarkable book which presents a fascinating double portrait of the subject and the author.' John Chilton, professional jazz trumpeter and writer on jazz 'This book is just what is needed to inform musicians, students, teachers, and historians around the world with an "up close and personal" view of the genius of jazz pianist/composer/teacher, Lennie Tristano. Bassist, Peter Ind describes vividly how exciting it was to be living in New York City as a creative musician. Peter's writing skills throughout will also enlighten and entertain the novice and non musician as well. The best part for me, is that it was written by a great player who was there right in the thick of it all. What can be a better source for the real truth? BRAVO Peter!' Rufus Reid, Jazz Bassist 'The Lennie Tristano story has needed telling for a long time. Who better than Peter Ind who knew Lennie and his music probably better than anyone.' Ira Gitler, doyen of New York jazz criticsTable of ContentsPREFACE PART ONE - LENNIE - THE MAN AND HIS MUSIC CHAPTER ONE - MY EARLY CONTACT WITH JAZZ - THE SOUNDS OF LENNIE TRISTANO AND OF CHARLIE PARKER (BIRD) CHAPTER TWO - MY EARLY EXPERIENCES OF NEW YORK JAZZ CHAPTER THREE - LIVING IN NEW YORK - WORKING WITH LENNIE IN THE EARLY DAYS CHAPTER FOUR - OTHER INFLUENCES ON JAZZ MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS DURING THE 1950'S CHAPTER FIVE - LENNIE AND THE CHANGES IN JAZZ FROM THE 1950's CHAPTER SIX - LENNIES INFLUENCE AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS ASSOCIATES FROM THOSE 1950'S DAYS CHAPTER SEVEN - A REFLECTION ON LENNIE AS I KNEW HIM - THE MAN AND HIS MUSIC PART TWO - LENNIE - A MORE TECHNICAL CONSIDERATION OF JAZZ IMPROVISATION AND HIS LEGACY CHAPTER EIGHT- WHAT DO WE MEAN BY JAZZ CHAPTER NINE - APPRECIATING JAZZ IMPROVISATION CHAPTER TEN - THE TECHNICAL BASE OF JAZZ AND LENNIE'S APPROACH PART THREE - A RECONSIDERATION OF LENNIE'S LEGACY CHAPTER ELEVEN - MYTHMAKING ABOUT LENNIE CHAPTERTWELVE- LENNIE TRISTANO AND THE ENIGMA OF NON-RECOGNITION CHAPTER THIRTEEN - MYTHMAKING AND PREJUDICES AND JAZZ CHAPTER FOURTEEN - REAPPRAISAL

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Book SynopsisThis is the first biography of the jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan (1938-72). He was a prodigy: recruited to Dizzy Gillespie''s big band while still a teenager, joining Art Blakey''s Jazz Messengers not much after, by his early-20s Morgan had played on four continents and dozens of albums. The trumpeter would go on to cultivate a personal and highly influential style, and to make records - most notably The Sidewinder - which would sell amounts almost unheard of in jazz. While what should have been Morgan''s most successful years were hampered by a heroin addiction, the ascendant black liberation movement of the late-60s gave the musician a new, political impulse, and he returned to the jazz scene to become a vociferous campaigner for black musicians'' rights and representation. But Morgan''s personal life remained troubled, and during a fight with his girlfriend at a New York club, he was shot and killed at age 33. Although Lee Morgan lived and died in sensational style, the story told in this book doesn''t just stumble between stages, studios, bars and needles; such a narrative couldn''t do justice to the richness of the trumpeter''s music, nor to the culture from which it came. Here, then, the events of Morgan''s life are presented not just as items of biography, but also as points of departure for wider historical investigations that aim to situate the musician and his contemporaries in changing aesthetic, social and economic contexts. The work draws on many original interviews with Morgan''s colleagues and friends, as well as extensive archival research and critical engagement with the music itself.

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Book SynopsisFor a generation of musicians and fans, the late Ray Charles provided the catalyst that fused the previously largely exclusive genres of jazz, blues and gospel music. In an era when jazz and pop music were seemingly poles apart, the impact of Charles' music was truly revolutionary in that it brought together these strands and fans for the first time. This book traces Ray Charles's amazing story from the abject disadvantage of being orphaned, black and blind in the South of the 1930s to the height of international success. With many quotes and exclusive interviews, including several with Ray Charles himself as well as from those who worked with, or were simply influenced by, the man who more than anyone else could truly be called the founding father of soul music.

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Book SynopsisSyd Barrett was Pink Floyd's founder, singer, guitarist and principal composer, who left the group in 1968 amidst tales of acid-induced madness. Barrett's brief flash of erratic brilliance has is now the stuff of rock legend, and his post-Floyd recordings have become cult classics.Updated for 2006, this book draws on years on research to relate an epic rock tragedy.

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Book SynopsisDolly Parton is the most famous person ever to have emerged from the American country music scene with her iconic cartoon image - mountainous blonde wigs, pumped up breasts and dazzling outfits. This is the first new and substantial biography for over 15 years. This book includes interviews with family members, musicians and producers who have worked with her over the years. It includes a detailed assessment of her music, as a songwriter and singer over the last forty years. It shows how she shrugged aside the male dominated world of Nashville in the 1960s, to take hold of her career, sell millions of albums and appear in films with Jane Fonda, Burt Reynolds and Sylvester Stallone. It will throw new light on her private life - her mysterious and closely guarded relationships with her husband Carl Dean and her lifelong friend Judy Ogle and her obsession with cosmetic surgery.Trade Review' A balanced, often absorbing study of an ultra-talented country music icon.' Mojo

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Book SynopsisThis is the most comprehensive and oral history of The Beatles ever published. An 'as it happened' story of the greatest pop group of them all, it features a wealth of quotes from the Sixties by John, Paul, George and Ringo themselves and a host of others who were close to the group during the heady days of Beatlemania and beyond, including their families, fellow musicians, Brian Epstein, George Martin and dozens more.Trade Review'It might actually make you dislike Paul and John at points. It will certainly open your eyes. This is truly one Beatles book you need.' Record Collector

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Book SynopsisYes have now been on the rock circuit for almost 40 years. Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, Chris Squire and Bill Bruford are just some of the star names who helped make the band one of the greatest-ever names in classic rock. Their turbulent story spans the early days of pub and club gigs, international supergroup status in the heyday of rock, and various line-ups since. An updated edition of the bestselling biography of Yes to include the historic return of Rick Wakeman to the classic Yes line-up and their ongoing highly successful tour of America.Trade Review'Fascinating... book of the month' Record Collector'(Welch's) insider's eye view makes for a refreshing account of the times.' Mojo.

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Book SynopsisThis edition has been expanded to include a new interview with Townhend himself as well as some revealing contributions from members of his family and Who insiders. Having now reached his sixties, Townshend has battled drug and alcohol addiction while becoming one of rock's most eloquent and intelligent spokesman. Ventures as a solo artist, Internet pioneer, literary editor and short story writer have vied with one another while his well-publicised public rows with Who singer Roger Daltrey have become the stuff of legend ...and recent Who revival tours have ensured that the musician from West London who helped revolutionise 60s rock can still be seen doing what he became famous for in the first place. Meanwhile this new edition of a distinguished biography reminds us that the excitement that Pete Townshend has generated and brings this story right up to date with many fascinating stops on the way.Trade ReviewIt's massive, extremely detailed and always readable account of Townshend's life. - Record Collector

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