Composers and songwriters Books

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Book SynopsisJIMMY PAGE - MAGUS MUSICIAN MAN

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Book SynopsisPINK FLOYD FAQ

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Book SynopsisThis work deals with Nielsen's symphonies and other works, and also compares Nielsen and Sibelius as symphonists.Trade Review"This analysis focuses on Nielsen's great symphonies, but also illuminates all of his other important works, including orchestral, chamber, keyboard, and vocal compositions" Music Educators JournalTable of ContentsPreface, 1. The Growth of the Artist, 2. The First Symphony (1891-2), 3.The Second Symphony - The Four Temperaments (1901-2), 4. The Third Symphony - Sinfonia Espansiva (1910-11), 5. The Fourth Symphony - The Inextinguishable (1914-16), 6. The Fifth Symphony (1920-22), 7. The Sixth Symphony - Sinfonia Semplice, 8. The Three Concertos - Violin, Flute and Clarinet, 9. Lesser Orchestral Works, 10. The Chamber Music, 11. The Keyboard Music, 12. The Human Voice, 13. Some General Observations, 14. Sibelius, Nielsen and the Symphonic Problem, A Biographical Sketch, List of Nielsen's Works, Index of Names

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Book SynopsisThis essay in autobiography opens in Eyrecourt, east Galway, and describes an early schooling at Rockwell and the experiences of a Jesuit novice at Emo Court, Co. Laois, and Rathfarnham.Trade ReviewFascinating… a delight not to be missed. It’s a rare treat indeed to find such an honest, penetrating, wise and thoughtful autobiobiography.’ – Eilís Dillon, The Irish Times ‘A beautifully-written book.’ – Benedict Kiely, Sunday Independent ‘Wonderfully lyrical… and extremely well written. It is haunting and memorable. When you finish it, you can hardly wait for another volume.’ – Peter Levi, Irish University ReviewFascinating… a delight not to be missed. It’s a rare treat indeed to find such an honest, penetrating, wise and thoughtful autobiobiography.’ – Eilís Dillon, The Irish Times ‘A beautifully-written book.’ – Benedict Kiely, Sunday Independent ‘Wonderfully lyrical… and extremely well written. It is haunting and memorable. When you finish it, you can hardly wait for another volume.’ – Peter Levi, Irish University Review

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Book SynopsisIn the same no-holds-barred style of her radio show, Angie shares stories from behind-the-scenes of her most controversial interviews, opens up about her personal life, and reflects on her climb to become the Voice of New York.

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Book SynopsisIn The Grail Guitar: The Search for Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze Telecaster, Chris Adams takes readers on a fascinating mystery tour to determine whether a Fender Telecaster bought secondhand in a London music store in 1973 was the one used by Jimi Hendrix to record Purple Haze in January 1967. The only clues are its left-handed tuners and the salesman's chance remark that the guitar was brought into the shop by a Hendrix roadie. But these are enough to set the author off on this intriguing journey into Hendrix history.With firsthand details from model Linda Keith, who discovered Hendrix in New York, Adams recounts how the rising star left for London with a white Stratocaster belonging to Keith Richards. The man who made Hendrix's pedals explains how this Strat failed to make the Purple Haze recording session and how it was replaced by a borrowed Telecaster. As Adams tracks down the surviving musicians, they shed light on the fate of that Telecaster and gradually the two guitars begin toTrade ReviewIn 1973, Adams bought a guitar from a music store in London. The salesman mentioned that the guitar had been brought in by one of Jimi Hendrix’s roadies. It was a maybe-it’s-true curiosity, and the author talked about the possible Hendrix connection from time to time as the years passed. Forty years later, though, he learned that a lot of Hendrix fans were debating the existence of a (possibly mythical) 'lost' guitar, one used by Hendrix at some London recording sessions that had disappeared in the early 1970s. Could Adams have bought that guitar? He was determined to find out. This endlessly fascinating account of his search for the truth is structured like a police procedural: Adams finds clues, follows leads, and interviews people who might know something. It’s the story of a guitar, sure, but it’s also the story of a music subculture, of a global fan collective whose devotion to a long-dead musician has shaped their lives. It’s not often that you can say about a music book that readers will be impatiently turning the pages, anxious to see how the story plays out, but that’s exactly what happens here. * Booklist, Starred Review *Musician Adams's fascinating search for the provenance of his beloved and battered Fender Telecaster—which may or may not have been owned by guitar hero Jimi Hendrix—is equal parts cultural history and detective story, and it's completely compelling reading. Adams's quest for the history of his 'grail' begins almost 40 years after he found the guitar in 1973 in a London music store, where a salesman casually tells Adams he got it from 'one of Hendrix's roadies.' At the time, Adams was guitarist in the folk-rock band String Driven Thing, and his knowledge of the late 1960s music scene serves him well as he and a researcher friend—inspired decades later by rumors about 'Jimi's lost Tele'—comb through Hendrix biographies and Internet sites. They discover a few solid facts in the chaos of Hendrix history: that Jimi used a Telecaster on overdubs on the 'Purple Haze' recording, even though his guitar of choice was the Fender Stratocaster; that Hendrix bass player Noel Redding had procured the guitar from a friend for the session; that Redding ended up with the guitar after he had stopped playing with Hendrix; and that Redding had probably sold it to an actual Hendrix roadie. As Adams traces the guitar's journey through the 1960s—including a day-glo paint refinishing—he successfully rescues 'this little piece of rock history for posterity.' * Publishers Weekly *Even 45 years since his death, Hendrix books still come thick and fast, most unable to provide much exciting new insight into the greatest guitarist the world has ever seen. But former String Driven Thing guitarist Chris Adams has a genuinely interesting tale to tell and produces a book that Jimi geeks ill salivate over.... Adams deftly weaves in Hendrix's story, from hitting the UK with the white Stratocaster Linda 'borrowed' from then-boyfriend Keith Richards, then the triumphs, nightmares, and dodgy business shenanigans which plagues Hendrix until his death and beyond. He emerges with a compelling book that manages to combine ace detective work, relentlessly diligent endeavor and, crucially, tantalising morsels of new information. Unreservedly recommended for Hendrix buffs. * Shindig! Magazine *The growth and the development of the internet is responsible for many things, and one of the benefits of the possibilities of the world wide web is the existence of books like this, where something said over a 3rd hand telecaster can lead to the amount of detective work that would put a Raymond Chandler private eye to shame. If you add one of the most revered and iconic figures in rock history to the mix, then there will be a lot of interest, from fans of the guitar, rock music, and the Sixties and the Seventies. . . .There is a lot to be said for this book, both as a historical record of the bands and musicians who worked with Hendrix, and the times in the 1960s and 1970s and for shedding light on some of the musicians and players that plied their trade in the shadows of one of the giants of rock music. * Muso's Guide *[The Grail Guitar: The Search for Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze Telecaster] makes for a interesting mix of musical history and detective novel that form this intriguing read. * My Big Honkin Blog *In 1973 author Adams, at the time the guitarist for String Driven Thing, bought a used Telecaster in London after enduring an embarrassing on-stage incident where his only guitar failed on him during a show. Eventually Adams came to believe the guitar was previously played by Jimi Hendrix, and then the possibility came up that it could actually be the guitar that Jimi used on the recording of 'Purple Haze.' The book is the story of Adams' quest to find out the truth about the guitar and the tale is presented in a fun way that reveals insight about Hendrix and other rock 'n' roll luminaries as Adams meets and gleans information from various survivors of the scene. We won't reveal here what Adams determined about the provenance of the guitar but we will reveal that the reader will have a great time tagging along with him during the investigation. * antiMusic *Rock and roll has a million stories of the love affair between men and gear. This one's a heart-breaker. -- David Hepworth, author of Never A Dull MomentI was there the day that Chris Adams bought the battered old Tele, so I can vouch for the left handed tuners and the salesman's chance remark that it had been brought in by a Hendrix Roadie. But moving on from that point and building a case from scratch takes countless hours of detective work. And make no mistake! That's what this book is... an intriguing detective story with no clue left unfollowed and no lead left unturned. And by the way, that's what makes it a hell of a great read! -- Arnie Toshner, sound engineer for String Driven ThingTable of ContentsPart 1: Sifting Fact from Fiction Chapter 1: The Backup Guitar Chapter 2: Purple Haze Rumors Chapter 3: Ruby Tuesday Chapter 4: Enter Svengali Chapter 5: Jamming Chapter 6: Experience Counts Chapter 7: A Kentish Lad Chapter 8: The Purple Haze Session Part 2: Following The Tele Trail Chapter 9: Psychedelic Makeover Chapter 10: Travels with the Grail Guitar Chapter 11: Dreams Realized Chapter 12: Sam Chapter 13: Isle of Wight Connexions Chapter 14: The Hendrix Expert Chapter 15: Last Rays Part 3: Outcomes Chapter 16: A Shot of Rye Chapter 17: The Crew Chapter 18: Holy Relics Chapter 19: Tele-photo! Chapter 20: The Examination Part 4: Conclusions Chapter 21: Exit Lines Chapter 22: Return of the Grail Guitar Chapter 23: Lonely Intersections Chapter 24: Closing Arguments Postscript: The Man Who Said ‘No’ to Jimi Notes on Key Players

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Book SynopsisThe first ever book by music legend and author of the bestselling Me, Sir Elton John: a personal, passionate and illuminating journey of his fight to end the AIDS epidemic.In the 1980s, Elton John saw friend after friend, loved one after loved one, perish needlessly from AIDS. In the midst of the plague, he befriended Ryan White, a young Indiana boy ostracized by his town and his school because of the HIV infection he had contracted from a blood transfusion. Ryan''s inspiring life and devastating death led Elton to two realizations: His own life was a mess. And he had to do something to help stop the AIDS crisis. Since then, Elton has dedicated himself to overcoming the plague and the stigma of AIDS. He has done this through the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has raised and donated $275 million to date to fighting the disease worldwide. Love Is The Cure is Elton''s personal account of his life during the AIDS epidemic, including stories of his close friendsTrade ReviewMy friend Elton John has touched us all with his music and with the countless lives he has saved through his AIDS Foundation. Now he has given us a deeply personal story of struggle and perseverance in the fight against this terrible disease. Few people know more than Elton about what it will take to end AIDS. His wonderful new book will convince you there's cause for hope - and inspire you to be part of the solution. * Bill Clinton *Heartbreaking and inspiring... truly unforgettable * The Star *It is gripping, emotional reading, penned beautifully by Elton. * Mail on Sunday *This is a well researched, thoughtful book that should be required breading for anyone involved in the fight against any horrible disease, especially one that carries the stigma Aids still does. It provides a lesson in how to fight both illness and prejudice. Sir Elton has every right to be proud. * Sunday Express *Engaging * Sunday Times *Sincere, impassioned... powerful, persuasive... He is convincing in his belief that the eradication of AIDS is not an impossible dream. * The Herald *What makes this book so important and readable is Elton's eloquent voice as an activist... Even if you know all the facts and figures, he has a way of presenting them and his case in such a simple and clear headed way. .. You'll be hard pushed to find such a compassionate and pragmatic case for the eradication of AIDS through basic human compassion. * Gay Times *The book provides a lesson in how to fight illness and prejudice. Sir Elton John has every right to be proud * International Express *

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Book SynopsisWALK TALL: THE MUSIC & LIFE OF JULIAN CANNONBALL ADDERLEY

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Book SynopsisFrom his cavernous voice and unparalleled artistry to his fearless struggle for human rights, Paul Robeson was one of the twentieth century''s greatest icons and polymaths. In Everything Man Shana L. Redmond traces Robeson''s continuing cultural resonances in popular culture and politics. She follows his appearance throughout the twentieth century in the forms of sonic and visual vibration and holography; theater, art, and play; and the physical environment. Redmond thereby creates an imaginative cartography in which Robeson remains present and accountable to all those he inspired and defended. With her bold and unique theorization of antiphonal life, Redmond charts the possibility of continued communication, care, and collectivity with those who are dead but never gone.Trade Review“Formally challenging and beautifully conceived, Everything Man is a model for scholarship and thinking as well as a powerful addition to the body of work on Paul Robeson, freedom movements, sound studies, music, and beyond. It will make a tremendous impact.” -- Christina Sharpe, author of * In the Wake *"Shana Redmond’s ingenious reframing of Paul Robeson as Afrofuturist media artist is but one quality marking Everything Man as a milestone contribution to Robeson scholarship. Redmond compels readers to reconsider Robeson as a radical modernist—one whose innovative embrace of electronic media technology (film, sound recording, telegraph) transforms our understanding of him from remote Black Communist icon to protean, creative contemporary. In lucid and evocative prose Redmond narrates how Robeson democratized sonic and visual modernity while engaged in anticapitalist justice work. Redmond illuminates the afterlife of Robeson’s voice and presence too—his appearances in postmodern art practices and the many places Robeson’s footpaths took Redmond where she discovered he was still revered by the far-flung descendants of the man's midcentury comrades and congregants.” -- Greg Tate, author of * Flyboy 2 *"[A] deeply innovative exploration of the cultural resonances of the titanic – yet often now overlooked African American song interpreter, actor, athlete and Freedom Fighter Paul Robeson. . . . Redmond returns Robeson to his rightful place at the center of the American conversation." -- Ann Powers * NPR's Best Books of 2020 *"Charting Robeson’s life through his sonic abilities, Redmond crafts a rare and inspired work, a worthy academic text that demonstrates both the emblematic power of individuals and their ability to foment widespread resistance to oppressors." -- J. Neal * Choice *"It is known that Robeson was a great man and defender of those who could not defend himself. His legacy is further cemented through this book which breathes new life into this artist’s impacted and historical life." -- Jordannah Elizabeth * New York Amsterdam News *Table of ContentsElement: A Preface xi Acknowledgments xix Vibration. An Introduction 1 1. Hologram 14 2. Play 39 3. Installation 72 4. Environment 102 Frequency. A Continuation . . . 130 Notes 141 Bibliography 161 Index 173

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Book SynopsisFounded by guitarist Mick Jones and fronted by the legendary Joe Strummer the Clash had the charisma of Elvis the integrity of the Beatles and the swagger of the Rolling Stones. Through a series of influential singles and stirring concerts the Clash not only outlasted their rivals the Sex Pistols but also prospered and broke through in the US of A a feat matched by no other UK punk-rock band.ÞWith the classic ÊLondon CallingÊ and revolutionary triple album ÊSandinista!Ê the Clash helped popularize both reggae and hip-hop thereby indoctrinating the record buying public to world music. By 1982 members of the Clash found themselves not only with a hit album (ÊCombat RockÊ) but also playing opening sets during the Who''s first retirement tour. It appeared the Clash would fill this gap. It was not to be. A series of self-inflicted wounds led to a legendary downfall mere months after appearing in front on their largest audience ever at the U.S. Festival in 1983. Strummer and bassist

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Book SynopsisIf the Beatles wrote the soundtrack of the swinging ''60s then the Eagles did the same for the cynical ''70s. The story of the Eagles is also the story of most artists of their time ä the drugs the music the excesses and the piles of cash. But the Eagles took it to the limit. And in Don Henley and Glenn Frey they had two songwriters who intuitively understood and accurately portrayed the changing America they lived in. They perfected the California sound shifted power from record company to artist and pioneered album-oriented rock. Eagles songs of the period are as memorable as any ever written and their most popular album ÊHotel CaliforniaÊ became a timeless record of ''70s decadence.ÞIn ÊThe Eagles FAQÊ music critic Andrew Vaughan brings an insider''s view into the various chapters of the group''s fascinating history. He shows how they blended the best folk rock and country sounds of the ''60s into a worldwide soundtrack of the ''70s while challenging the industry status

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Book SynopsisThis signature limited edition numbered and autographed on the first page by Merri Cyr!Available only as a pre-publication order for a limited time only! Cyr and Jeff Buckley biographer Jeff Apter create an illustrated tribute to Grace in celebration of its twenty-fifth anniversary.

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Book SynopsisThe narrative of Tumult! The Incredible Life and Music of Tina Turner is an extended exploration of the magical transformation of shy country girl Anna Mae Bullock into the boisterous force of nature we know today as Tina Turner. This is creative alchemy in action: turning into Turner is actually also the captivating tale of someone who was already precociously there, a stellar talent just waiting to emerge and grab the global spotlight. Far from the early myths attached to her name by association with her talented but tormenting producer-husband, she was not a Svengali-like creation at all, but rather a fully formed, if vulnerable, young musical prodigy who was going to burst out of the creative shell imposed upon her one way or the other. Even though it took sixteen years to do so, her second career as a solo pop artist is the achievement for which she is rightly remembered. In Turner, we have a case study in triumph over adversity and sheer creative will pow

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Book SynopsisLovingly illustrated with thirty original and inspired works by esteemed art director, graphic designer, and illustrator Hugh Syme, Our House brings to life the joyful emotions of Graham Nash's song Our House. The book conjures the warm feelings we all share in our hearts about a loving and caring home.Appropriate for all ages, Our House is at once a beautifully illustrated children's book and a magical visual journey for readers of all ages, especially the millions of people around the world who embraced the song as their own.Our House also contains a newly recorded version by Graham Nash of the classic song Our House, punctuating the book's images and allowing for timeless and fun sing-a-longs with the book.

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Book SynopsisUnder Their Thumb:How a Nice Boy from Brooklyn Got Mixed Up with the Rolling Stones (and Lived to Tell About It) tells the story of Bill German''s unlikely friendship with the Rolling Stones. He first met them on the streets of New York when he was a seventeen-year-old aspiring journalist. After handing them a copy of his amateur fanzine, they took the author under their wing and hired him as their official historian. They turned his little rag into their official newsletter and advertised it in one of their albums.Soon after, he began traveling the world with them and staying at their homes. German went from being a teenage fan who wanted to know everything about his favorite band to suddenly knowing too much! He was privy to their private jams and recording sessions as well as to their parties, peccadilloes, and in-fights. Yet, through it all, he maintained his identity as that nice boy from Brooklyn. Despite Keith''s observationor edict?that people only leave the Stones in

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Book SynopsisFor some, Rod Stewart embodies all of the conceit and narcissism that susceptible egos are prone to once they make it big in the music industry. Even if that were true, however, that wouldn't change the fact that he is responsible for some of the greatest recordings ever made. A great number of those songs were recorded for the Mercury label between 1969 and 1975, spread across Stewart's solo output as well as his side gig as front man for the band Faces. Even when the records were likable more often than they were classic, Stewart was still one of the greatest live attractions in the world, whether on his own or with the band.Rod Stewart: The Classic Years gives an precedented in-depth look at this crucial phase of Stewart's career. Author Sean Egan brings together interviews with musicians Mick Waller, Pete Sears, and Ray Jackson, engineer Mike Bobak, manager Billy Gaff, Stewart's then-girlfriend and muse Dee Harrington, his publicist Jonathan Rowlands, and many other key individuals in orbit around Stewart, including a brand-new interview with the man himself for a first-hand account of the Mercury years. Egan offers a striking portrait of big egos, plenty of decadence, and solid-gold rock n' roll amidst the long post-60s hangover.

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Book SynopsisHe didn't know it at the time, but Tim Ghianni's love affair with Nashville and its musical artists began on a steamy night in 1972, when the twenty-year-old author had unsolicited help from honky-tonkin' legends Bobby Bare and Shel Silverstein during an after-midnight salvation of the city. It was the beginning of a lifelong urban romance that Ghianni would pursue during a career as a journalist in middle Tennessee, interviewing Nashville's biggest stars and developing friendships with musicians of all kinds.Pilgrims, Pickers & Honky-Tonk Heroes is Tim Ghianni's love letter and nostalgic swan song, recounting the storied musical history of Nashville as well as the dramatic changes the city has seen over the course of fifty years. The Nashville of todaywith one hundred newcomers a day from places like Los Angeles and New York and fresh waves of musicians making up a new modern soundtrackis not the same city he made his home in 1972, for better and for worse.Time changeTrade Review “Tim is a wordsmith unlike any other. We’ve shared some good times together and he encapsulates the experiences as if they were yesterday. A truly gifted writer and friend.” -- Kris Kristofferson

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Book SynopsisBASS NOTES: REFLECTIONS ON MY LIFE IN JAZZ AND JAZZ IN THE LIFE OF OUR CULTURE

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Book SynopsisI SAW THEM STANDING THERE: A 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF MY STORY WITH THE BEATLES BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THEY CONQUERED AMERICATrade ReviewIn this heartfelt, personal and engaging memoir, Debbie Gendler has perfectly captured the fun, the passion, the insanity and all of the raging hormones surrounding 1960s Beatlemania. Having lived through it myself, it was a thoroughly enjoyable—and accurate—trip back in time. -- Bob Gale, co-writer, “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and “Back to the Future”60 years after they conquered the world, The Beatles' fandom still numbers in the millions. And not one of these fans wouldn't trade places with 13 year-old Debbie Gendler: if there's a title for first American Beatle fan, Debbie qualifies. Long before the 1964 Ed Sullivan Show debut, she was tuned in. This is her story - the closest any of us will get to trading places. Written with immediacy, passion and an observant eye, she shares her life-changing journey that took her from small-town New Jersey to the group's inner circle. Stories like this are no longer possible, but thankfully Debbie shares her's beautifully with us, the present day fans. -- Robert Rodriguez, Author, Revolver: How The Beatles Re-Imagined Rock 'n Roll; creator/host of the Something About The Beatles podcastDebbie, I remember you at the Ed Sullivan Show! -- Harry Benson, CBE - Official photographer for the Beatles 1964 first visit to AmericaAn engaging, vivid account of a first-generation Beatles fan, In My Life lets readers vicariously experience everything, from Ed Sullivan to Shea Stadium and beyond, through Deb's eyes. Her account helps reclaim the voice, savvy, and reputation of the female fan after generations of dismissive portrayals. -- Erin Torkelson Weber, author of The Beatles and the HistoriansWhen the Beatles arrived in the United States in early February 1964, their critics deemed the Liverpool band a passing fad—certain that the exuberant, female-led fandom that followed them would soon fade away. While history has proved otherwise, it is only more recently that this first generation of fans has come forward to share what the Beatles have meant to them. As a leading participant in the earliest days of American Beatlemania (complete with a ticket to the band's debut on The Ed Sullivan Show), Debbie Gendler gifts readers with a page-turning memoir that vividly depicts how the twentieth century’s most joyful cultural phenomenon has shaped her life in meaningful and often surprising ways. -- Christine Feldman-Barrett, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia, author of A Women’s History of the BeatlesWith a one-of-a-kind, front row perspective, Debbie Gendler shares what being a part of Beatle-mania truly felt like from the beginning until today. -- Augie Max Vargas, Producer, CBS The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles, Emmy Award Winning ProducerThe most interesting part for me [of Ron Howard’s film The Beatles: The Touring Years] was the bonus feature about the “3 Fans” [ with Debbie Gendler] who were there at the beginning of the US hysteria. I liked hearing their stories. -- Alex D., San Antonio, TX on Steve Hoffman's Music ForumsAs a last minute stand-in for the ailing George Harrison during the historic Sullivan Show rehearsal I felt the excitement, frenzy and screams that Debbie conveys so enthusiastically in this story she is finally ready to share. Deb tells it like it was! -- Vince Calandra, Talent Executive, The Ed Sullivan Show 1962-1971

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Book SynopsisIn this fast-moving candid conversational and entertaining memoir Harold Prince the most honored director/producer in the history of the American theater looks back over his seventy-year (and counting!) career.Þ In 1974 Prince released his first book ÊContradictions: Notes on Twenty-Six Years in the TheatreÊ. Although ÊContradictionsÊ has since attained cult status among producers directors and actors alike Prince in hindsight believes he wasn''t ready to publish such a tome at that point in his career (in fact doing so was an act of insane arrogance ). Although he doesn''t regret that effort he is at last prepared to conclude it to see where I was right in my assessments and where I was wrong. In ÊSense of OccasionÊ Prince returns to this seminal text invigorating it with fresh insights cultivated through four decades of additional practice.ÞÊSense of OccasionÊ gives an insider''s recollection of the making of such landmark musicals as ÊWest Side StoryÊ ÊFiddler

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Book SynopsisGUNS N' ROSES FAQ: ALL THAT'S LEFT TO KNOW ABOUT THE BAD BOYS OF SUNSET STRIP

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Book SynopsisKinky Friedman has always maintained his Kinkster persona and hidden Richard Friedman from the public eye. Using one-liners humor and occasional rudeness he follows the advice of his friend Bob Dylan to keep an aura of mystery. Author Mary Lou Sullivan spent many contentious days and nights at Kinky''s Texas Hill Country ranch before he trusted her enough to open up and speak candidly.ÞBest known as an irreverent cigar-chomping Jewish country-and-western singer turned author turned politician Kinky has dined on monkey brains in the jungles of Borneo supped with presidents and vacationed with Bob Dylan in the tiny fishing village of Yelapa Mexico.ÞA satirist who loves pushing the envelope he''s been attacked onstage received bomb threats and put on the only show in Austin City Limits'' history deemed too offensive to air.ÞFrom the 1970s music scene in L.A. with Tom Waits and the Band to political platforms advocating legalized marijuana to friendships with John Belushi Jo

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Book SynopsisCharting a century''s worth of innovation and experimentation in the creation of music, Soundbreaking offers a behind-the-scenes look at the birth of new soundsand features original interviews with twenty-one of the most celebrated artists, producers, and music industry pioneers of our time. This book was inspired by the eight-part Grammy- and Emmy-nominated film series Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music, one of the most wide-ranging series on the art of music recording and the last project of the late legendary music producer Sir George Martin. Featuring a special foreword by Sir George Martin and original artist profiles by Grammy Museum founding executive director Robert Santelli, Soundbreaking highlights twenty-one artists from across eras and a wide spectrum of genres. In intimate interviews, these music legends share their personal insights in passages from longer interviews conducted

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Book SynopsisBranden W. Joseph is Frank Gallipoli Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art at Columbia University. He is the author of four books, including Beyond the Dream Syndicate: Tony Conrad and the Arts after Cage (2008) and Random Order: Robert Rauschenberg and the Neo-Avant-Garde (2003), which appeared in French translation in 2012.Trade ReviewBranden W. Joseph's formidable Experimentations: John Cage in Music, Art and Architecture throws open the terrain [of Cagean studies] once again. * The Wire *Branden Joseph gradually unfolds the role of chance, transformation, performativity and transparency in music, and provides an interesting multi-layered understanding of the latter’s intercourse with other disciplines ... The book provides an innovative understanding of the examined ideas that remains open, allowing for other disciplines to enter into the suggested discourse ... In this way Joseph offers to artists and architects valuable tools to work on the further development on the role of tracing, documenting, scoring and attuning in the performative understanding of their areas. * The Journal of Architecture *Experimentations: John Cage in Music, Art, and Architecture is a brilliant and vital critical contribution to the growing body of art historical scholarship on John Cage’s multidisciplinary legacy. The readymade Cage of chance and silence is replaced by a rich and nuanced narrative of a compositional practice nourished by its evolving and often conflicted exchanges with the artistic, architectural and political avant-gardes. * Ina Blom, Professor, Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas, University of Oslo, Norway *With great musical and historical sensitivity Joseph unpacks John Cage’s struggles, on the one hand, with Beethoven, Schoenberg, Stockhausen—the whole weighty European musical tradition, and on the other, with changing notions of experimentation and the avant-garde. What emerges is an artist who places music in the service of remaking the entire institution of art. Joseph succeeds in writing a brilliant book that is equally captivating for musicians and art historians. * Alexander Rehding, Professor of Music, Harvard University, USA *...Experimentations: John Cage in Music, Art, and Architecture provides its reader with an overview of Branden W. Joseph’s two-decade engagement with John Cage and represents some of the most intellectually rigorous writing about the composer … nuanced and important. * Critical Inquiry *Table of ContentsI. Introduction II. A Therapeutic Value for City Dwellers III. Hitchhiker in an Omnidirectional Transport IV. The Architecture of Silence V. Chance/Indeterminacy/Multiplicity VI. Ghost or Monster? Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisEvery now and then, a song inspires a cultural conversation that ends up looking like a brawl. Merle Haggard''s Okie from Muskogee, released in 1969, is a prime example of that important role of popular music. Okie immediately helped to frame an ongoing discussion about region and class, pride and politics, culture and counterculture. But the conversation around the song, useful as it was, drowned out the song itself, not to mention the other songs on the live albumnamed for Okie and performed in Muskogeethat Haggard has carefully chosen to frame what has turned out to be his most famous song. What are the internal clues for gleaning the intended meaning of Okie? What is the pay-off of the anti-fandom that Okie sparked (and continues to spark) in some quarters? How has the song come to be a shorthand for expressing all manner of anti-working class attitudes? What was Haggard''s artistic path to that stage in Oklahoma, and how did he come to shape the Table of Contents1. Introduction; or, Hag as Historian 2. The Bakersfield Sound; or, Hag Gets Hard 3. Singing a Group Autobiography; or, Hag as Hero 4. Misreading “Okie”; or, Hag Gets Hit 5. Country Music and Labor; or, Hag’s Two Hands 6. Good-bye, Merle: Hag Heads Home

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Book SynopsisOf the many girl-groups that came out of the 1960s, none is more idiosyncratic and influential than the Shangri-Las. They were together only five years, but within that time they subverted pop standards and foreshadowed a generation of tough women in music. Critically, they are not lauded in the way of the Ronettes, and they are certainly not a household name like the Supremes. They were a little too low-brow with an uncouth flair for theatrics that has placed them just left of the girl-group canon.This book examines the still-elusive validation of 1960s girl-groups as a whole, but also paradoxically aims to free the Shangri-Las from that category, viewing them instead with the sort of individuality traditionally afforded to rock groups. They were somehow able to challenge the status quo under the guise of sticky-sweet pop, a feat not many pop groups can achieve, but which they do fleetingly but not insubstantially in Golden Hits of the Shangri-Las. Trade ReviewAn energetic kaleidoscope-spin through the Shangri-Las 1966 album, Golden Hits of the Shangri-Las. * The Booklist Reader *Table of ContentsIntroduction Sophisticated Boom Boom Out In the Streets What Is Love? At the Moment, It Doesn’t Look Good Shangri-La, or Tomorrow’s a Long Way Off Does This Sound Familiar?

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Book SynopsisThe Drive-By Truckers' Southern Rock Opera takes listeners on a road trip through the American South, with stops along mean old highways and soul-sucking swamps, iconic recording studios and doomed chartered jets, and even Heaven and Hell. Along the way, the Truckers attempt to untangle the mess that is southern history by exploring the contradictory, dualistic nature of the region.Like twin paths intersecting and diverging before meeting again, the opera's libretto focuses on the lives of two bands: the fictional Betamax Guillotine, a stand-in for the Truckers themselves, and Southern rock gods Lynyrd Skynyrd. Rien Fertel takes us for a ride along the Truckers' winding road through the opera's Southlands, a region filled with youthful rockstar aspirations, fatal crashes, the wreckage of one band gone too soon, and the ambitions of another wrestling with the great hope and tragedy that is America.Table of ContentsTrack Listing Acknowledgments Act One 1. A Mean Old Highway - U.S. Route 72 2. That Muscle Shoals Sound - The Shoals, Alabama 3. Dying before Your Time - Macon, Georgia 4. Hell - Birmingham, Alabama Act Two 5. Fly around the World and Back - The Road 6. From the Swamps of Northern Florida - Jacksonville 7. Hurtling through Space - Outside Gillsburg, Mississippi 8. America - Huntsville, Alabama / Oxford, Mississippi Notes

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Book SynopsisBryan Wagner is Associate Professor of English and American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. His books include Disturbing the Peace: Black Culture and the Police Power after Slavery (2009), The Tar Baby: A Global History (2017), and The Life and Legend of Bras-Coupé: The Fugitive Slave Who Fought the Law, Ruled the Swamp, Danced at Congo Square, Invented Jazz, and Died for Love (2019).Trade ReviewIn his view, the Wild Tchoupitoulas is both a harbinger of that future and a symbol of the past that is long gone now. For a long essay/short book, [Bryan Wagner] does a great job, and he never forgets that the music and personalities that made it are what makes it the classic that it is. * Offbeat Magazine *Bryan Wagner’s truly enjoyable book is a fascinating trip into some of the history of the amazing city of New Orleans and the past and traditions of a section of the population who don’t always get the attention they deserve. It is much more about tradition and history than it is about the album per se; and it’s an all the better read as a result of that. * Americana UK *Table of ContentsMaps Introduction 1 Family 2 Tradition 3 Arrangement 4 Culture and Commerce Acknowledgements Notes on Sources

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Book SynopsisMy Neighbor Totoro is a long-standing international icon of Japanese pop culture that grew out of the partnership between the legendary animator Miyazaki Hayao and the world-renowned composer Joe Hisaishi. A crucial step in the two artists' collaboration was the creation of the album, My Neighbor Totoro: Image Song Collection, with lyrics penned by Miyazaki and Nakagawa Rieko, a famed children's book author, and music composed by Hisaishi. The album, released in 1987 prior to the opening of the film, served not only as a promotional product, but also provided Miyazaki with concrete ideas about the characters and the themes of the film. This book investigates the extent to which Hisaishi's music shaped Miyazaki's vision by examining the relationship between the images created by Miyazaki and the music composed by Hisaishi, with special emphasis on their approaches to nostalgia, one of the central themes of the film.Trade ReviewMany fans of Japanese anime love their musical soundtracks, but few scholars have studied their appeal. Kunio Hara explains in clear, soulful language how Joe Hisaishi and Miyazaki Hayao collaborated to create the sonic environment for the beloved My Neighbor Totoro, balancing a scholars’ sophisticated musical analysis and a fan’s emotional engagement. * E. Taylor Atkins, Distinguished Teaching Professor and Assistant Chair of History, Northern Illinois University, USA *Kunio Hara is one of the few music and Japanese film scholars with a truly multidisciplinary and multilingual competence. To discover the minutest details of Totoro's music through a panoply of references previously unavailable to English-speaking readers, while also enjoying endearing recollections on the special sense of nostalgia exuded by the film, is all the more satisfying. * Marco Bellano, Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor in History of Animation, University of Padova, Italy *Table of ContentsList of Examples Acknowledgments Preface Introduction 1. Miyazaki, Hisaishi, and Their Collaboration 2. Two Songs from the Image Album 3. Totoro in Music and Sound 4. The Wind and the Forest 5. Satsuki and Mei 6. Forgotten Sounds Conclusion: Forgetting and Remembering Notes References Filmography Discography Track Lists Index

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Book SynopsisDaniel B. Sharp is Associate Professor at Tulane University, USA, jointly appointed in music and Latin American studies. He is currently chair of the Tulane music department. He is the author of Between Nostalgia and Apocalypse: Popular Music and the Staging of Brazil (2014).Trade ReviewThe structure of this well-documented work is as rigorous as it is thoughtful and provocative. … Sharp choreographs and curates with thematic balance and stylistic creativity throughout the pages of his highly readable volume. -- Steven F. Butterman, University of Miami * Latin American Music Review *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Figures Introduction 1. Naná in Recife, from Bossa to Tropicália 2. Counterculture and Dictatorship in Rio de Janeiro 3. The Enchanting and Revolutionary Berimbau: Naná and Glauber Rocha in New York City 4. Naná and Don Cherry: In Tune with Time Interlude: ECM Records Interlude: Creative Music Studio (CMS): The Unmusic School 5. Naná and Egberto 6. Utopia, Caricature, Satire, and Therapy: Naná in France Interlude: Naná’s place within the Fourth World 7. Race, Primitivism, and Counterculture 8. Voice, Body, Rhythm, and Special Effects 9. Saudades and Saudades Epilogue: After Saudades List of Interviews Endnotes Index

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Book SynopsisIn 1973, the musical collective 24-Carat Black released an unheralded masterpiece on Stax Recordsand then disappeared. Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth, a soul-funk concept album primarily written by the ex-Motown arranger Dale Warren, was too bleak, ambitious, or just outright bizarre to reach mainstream audiences. 24-Carat Black collapsed when Stax went bankrupt, and the group's only completed album sank into cultural obscurity. With deep reporting elucidating an untold story full of cinematic details, this book traces how Ghetto went from commercial flop to enigmatic underground classic embraced by the hip-hop community. It also chronicles, in infuriating detail, how the music industry of the 1970s systematically exploited soul musicians and then left them struggling to get paidand where 24-Carat Black fits into this broader injustice. This is a fascinating and multilayered story about a remarkable album nearly lost to history. It's also a rare glimpse into what it's like tTrade ReviewI hardly knew anything about 24 Carat Black or Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth until very recently, when I picked up Zach Schonfeld’s amazingly well-researched 33 1/3 book on the topic. Imagine my surprise as it slowly dawned on me how much of the music assembled by this collective served as the bedrock to so many songs I’ve known and loved for years. My world was rocked. * Sonic Breadcrumbs *[Veteran] music journalist and past A.V. Club contributor Zach Schonfeld uses the LP to unpack the ’70s soul scene, the decline of the influential Stax Records, and the [BS] industry practices that have made it so difficult for 24-Carat Black’s surviving members to get paid. * A.V. Club *Bloomsbury's 33 1/3 series has gained a stellar reputation over the years for meticulously and lovingly analyzing classic and important albums. Almost every self-respecting rock music fan has at least a passing familiarity with the more than 150 albums covered in the series …[24-Carat Black's Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth] succeeds on multiple levels – it's a wonderful snapshot of the American funk music scene of the '70s, it provides telling but unfortunate glimpses of the pitfalls of the music business, and it bridges gaps between classic soul, modern-day hip-hop, and other more adventurous genres that have mined classic albums for new inspiration. * PopMatters *Table of ContentsIntroduction: “Synopsis” 1 “The Story of the Ghetto” 2 “In the Ghetto” 3 “Rebirth” 4 “Gone” 5 “Poverty’s Paradise” Epilogue Acknowledgments Works Cited

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Book SynopsisThe first collection dedicated to David Bowie''s acting career shows that his film characterisations and performance styles shift and reform as decoratively as his musical personas. Though he was described as the most influential pop artist of the 20th century, whose work became synonymous with mask, mystery, sexual excess and ch-ch-ch-changing genres, Bowie also applied his genius to the craft of acting.Bowie's considerable filmography is systematically examined in 12 scholarly essays that include tributes to Bowie''s performance craft in other media forms. Classic films such as The Prestige and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, cult hits Labyrinth and The Man Who Fell To Earth, as well as lesser-known roles in The Image, Christiane F. and Broadway hit The Elephant Man are viewed, not simply through the lens of Bowie's mega-stardom, but as the work of a serious actor with inimitable talent. This compelling analysis celebrates the risk-takiTrade ReviewA lively, welcome and often surprising addition to our knowledge of the mercurial David Bowie and his place in popular culture. This is a wide-ranging and significant stimulus to Bowie studies. * Rodney Hall, Former Distinguished Visiting Professor at Victoria University, Australia, and author of Captivity Captive (1988) *I’m Not a Film Star: David Bowie as Actor succeeds in being not only scholarly, thorough and enlightening, but also highly readable. Whilst it covers perhaps the least explored facet of Bowie’s career, the authors weave in-depth analyses across his entire film (and stage) career intertwined with his better known (other) work and life. Bowie was an artist who resisted being pigeonholed concerning what it was to be one, and this book follows, thereby shedding new light on his whole oeuvre. I wish the research had been published when we were developing the exhibition David Bowie is. * Victoria Broackes, Director, London Design Biennale, UK, and co-curator of David Bowie is (2013-2016) *The rich and engaging essays Dixon and Black have collected in I’m Not a Film Star treat everything from Bowie’s cameos, short films, and videos to his notable starring performances. Together, they teach us that Bowie was more than a rock star dabbling in the movies. Rather, he chose his roles carefully and made thoughtful decisions about acting styles as he rethought his relation to realist acting and Brechtian ideas of gestural performance. The range of approaches represented here, including celebrity studies, close analysis of individual scenes, and performance theory, matches the diversity of Bowie’s work in film. * Glenn Hendler, Professor of English and American Studies, Fordham University, USA, and author of David Bowie's Diamond Dogs (Bloomsbury 2020) *Table of ContentsList of Contributor Bios List of Figures Acknowledgements Preface Shelton Waldrep, University of Southern Maine, USA Introduction Ian Dixon (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) and Brendan Black (Independent Scholar, Australia) 1. Ziggy Stardust, Direct Cinema and the Multi-modal Performance of Gesamtkunstwerk Lisa Perrot (University of Waikato, New Zealand) 2. David Bowie Is…Actor, Star and Character: Entangled Agencies in The Man Who Fell To Earth Dene October (University of the Arts, London, UK) 3. The Posed and the Unposed: Inhabited Clowns and Grotesques in Bowie’s Scary Monsters and The Elephant Man Amedeo d’Adamo (American Film Institute, USA) 4. Consuming Bowie: Christiane F’ and the Transgressive Allure of Anglo-American Pop Culture in Cold-War West Berlin Susanne Hillman (San Diego State University, USA) 5. Gesturing Dust: Sensing David Bowie’s Performance in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence Sean Redmond (Deakin University, Australia) 6. The Hunger’s deathly shadow: The sweet annihilation of David Bowie, NYC, circa. 1980-83 Mitch Goodwin (University of Melbourne, Australia) 7. ‘Who Can I Be Now?’: Codpieces, carnival and the blurring of identity in Labyrinth Brendan Black (Independent Scholar, Australia) 8. Bowie as Actor/Bowie as Icon: Authenticity versus Iconography in Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ Ian Dixon (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) 9. The Surveillant Power of the (A)Temporal Cameo In Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) Tyne Daile Sumner (The University of Melbourne, Australia) 10. Loving the Alienation: Bowie, Basquiat, Brecht Glenn D’Cruz (Deakin University, Australia) 11. Performative Emotional Symbolism and Stylistic Gesture in Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige Toija Cinque (Deakin University, Australia) 12. ‘Just Like the Films’: Lazarus and Cinematic Melancholia Denis Flannery (University of Leeds, UK) Filmography/Discography Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThis book is the first to address in a serious way the impact and meaning of the music of “Weird Al” Yankovic. Though everyone knows his name, Yankovic is often dismissed as a novelty. His music builds on a rich American tradition of parody song, with many levels of signification—humorous, insulting, political, often at the same time. His songs, including his original compositions, make us laugh but also have a point of view, be it on society, popular culture, food, or words themselves. Very few other artists have created music so dense in meaning and for so long, and it’s high time we recognize Yankovic’s cloyingly humorous appeal. Through original interviews with the man himself, Lily Hirsch addresses Yankovic’s relationship to past parody song as well as his unique approach to the art form. Focusing mainly on his fourteen studio albums, the book explores his music based on themes like insult, politics, race, and word abuse. It also discusses his reputation as one of the music industry’s good guys. In today’s age of incivility (political and otherwise), his nice-guy persona stands out and has helped win him fiercely loyal fans who’ve found in his music a certain acceptance and affirmation. This book is for those fans but also invites music enthusiasts of all stripes to consider and reconsider Yankovic’s music.Table of ContentsForeword, by Dr. Demento Introduction—Still Weird Al Chapter 1—This Is the Life Chapter 2—The Prince of Pop Parody Chapter 3—Policing and Playing with Language Chapter 4—Sugar and Spice and Everything Almost Nice Chapter 5—The Art of Self-Deprecation Chapter 6—President Al Chapter 7—The Woke Joke Chapter 8—Junking Gender Chapter 9—Al-most Famous Conclusion

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Book SynopsisSax Appeal tells the story of Ivy Benson, the famous wartime leader of an all-female jazz and swing band. Battling the dangers and privations of wartime touring, male opposition and the constant loss of her girls' to American Servicemen, she formed a professional band which entertained successfully for over forty years.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Big Bands Chapter 2. Changing Times—The 1930s Chapter 3. Ivy Chapter 4. Early War Chapter 5. ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association) Chapter 6. Battle of the Saxes Chapter 7. The Wartime ‘Girls’ Chapter 8. Overpaid, Oversexed and Over Here Chapter 9. Living Through History Chapter 10. The Shock of Berlin—the first post-war tour. Chapter 11. The Post-war Band Chapter 12. On the Road Chapter 13. Ivy the Woman Chapter 14. Pop go the Big Bands Chapter 15. Silver Lady Chapter 16. Memories Chapter 17. Legacy

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Book SynopsisLegendary maestro Leonard Slatkin provides personal insights and offers his ideas to solve the current dilemmas of classical music.As the new millennium poses some of the greatest challenges to the relevance of the art form, Slatkin reflects on the modern evolution of classical music and presents ways for both music lovers and musicians alike to navigate these uncertain times. Classical Crossroads: The Path Forward for Music in the 21st-Century addresses a wide range of relevant and provocative topics such as performance in the era of COVID-19, shrinking audiences, the lack of classical music in public education, broken audition systems, technology replacing live concerts, and the lack of diversity in the classical music world. While the new millennium has provided great obstacles, Slatkin emphasizes that there are also new opportunitiesif there was ever a time for change in classical music, that time is now.

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Book SynopsisRoy Orbison emerged as an artist alongside his Sun Records contemporaries in the early days of rock 'n' roll. He did not possess the good looks of Elvis Presley or the everyman toughness of Johnny Cash nor did he conduct wild-child stage antics like Jerry Lee Lewis. But he did possess a magnetic mystique that would captivate fans around the world and inspire countless musicians.ÞA quiet man who k.d. lang would refer to as Buddha Orbison was more interested in building model airplanes watching films and reading books in his den than talking about himself or partying hard. Yet he was nothing shy of a superstar ä determined to succeed driven by a relentless love for music that started in childhood and blessed with some of the best pipes in the business. Standing still onstage hidden behind his perpetual Ray-Bans Orbison delivered his melodious songs with haunting emotional depth. His artful recordings mysterious image and angelic voice have left an indelible mark on popular music.ÞIn ÊRhapsody in BlackÊ John Kruth tells the story of Roy Orbison in prose as musical as the artist's melodies and does not shy away from or trivialize the personal pain alienation and tragic events that shaped Orbison's singular personality and music. Featuring interviews with people who worked closely with Orbison career-spanning photos a select discography and a new afterward for the paperback edition ÊRhapsody in BlackÊ is both celebratory and touching. It delves into the behind-the-music details of Orbison's collaborations recording sessions tours and business affairs as well as his personal life ä his roots his marriages and his children ä to present a telescopic view of his legacy.

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Book SynopsisExperience spiritual encouragement from the Queen of Country Music with this collection of devotionals and uplifting lyrics.It's been over sixty years since the late Loretta Lynn first rose to stardom, transforming from a coal miner's daughter to the Queen of Country Music. Loretta knew she was blessed-to record music, to sing her songs to such great crowds, and to write books.A Song and A Prayer is a collection of devotionals combined with song lyrics that delivers a unique form of worship. Inspired by her songwriting sessions with Kim McLean (a fellow songwriter, music producer, as well as ordained minister and reverend doctor), Loretta's love of God is felt on every page of this book. Readers will learn to experience and maintain an intimate one-on-relationship with God. This volume will become a cherished companion for Loretta Lynn fans and readers everywhere as they strive to live each precious moment to the fullest and happiest.Through A Song and A Prayer, readers of all faiths and walks of life will have the opportunity to bask in a month's worth of spiritual encouragement. Loretta's thoughts and lyrics not only capture the presence of God, but also capture a presence that transcends Christianity-the spirit of creativity. In a busy world, Loretta's lyrics and prayers remind readers that God loves them more than they could imagine.

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Book Synopsis

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