Description
Book Synopsis Michael Ramirez examines the lives of forty-eight independent rock musicians who seek out non-normative choices in a renowned college music town. He explores the life course trajectories of women and men to understand the extent to which pathways are structured to allow some individuals to fashion careers in music worlds.
Trade Review"A fascinating reminder of music's profound impact across the life course,
Destined for Greatness offers a backstage look at how musicians pursue, abandon, or creatively accommodate their rock and roll dreams with the realities of growing up." -- Ross Haenfler * author of Straight Edge *
"Michael Ramirez tells a fascinating story of emerging adulthood, developing an identity as a professional musician, and confronting the challenges of sustaining a career in the indie college music scene."
-- William T. Bielby * professor of sociology, University of Illinois Chicago *
"?Weekly Book List, April 20, 2018" by Nina Ayoub * Chronicle of Higher Education *
"The Page 99 Test: Michael Ramirez's
Destined for Greatness" * The Page 99 Test *
"My Book, The Movie" blog post about
Destined for Greatness * My Book, The Movie *
"Campaign for the American Reader" blog post on
Destined for Greatness * Campaign for the American Reader *
New Books Network - New Books in Sociology interview with Michael Ramirez * New Books Network *
"This is an excellent addition to an evolving area of scholarship." * Choice *
"Book Explores Athens Music," in
Georgia Magazine * Georgia Magazine *
"?Rock stars are made, not born," essay by Michael Ramirez * Work in Progress *
"Through his meticulous study of 48 indie-rock musicians aspiring musical success, Ramirez sketches a captivating picture of the motivations, considerations, and concerns of these musicians and their endeavors to make music their vocation." * Work and Occupations *
"A very timely and important book. It should appeal to a wide variety of sociologists with divergent research interests." * American Journal of Sociology *
"A fascinating reminder of music's profound impact across the life course,
Destined for Greatness offers a backstage look at how musicians pursue, abandon, or creatively accommodate their rock and roll dreams with the realities of growing up." -- Ross Haenfler * author of Straight Edge *
"Michael Ramirez tells a fascinating story of emerging adulthood, developing an identity as a professional musician, and confronting the challenges of sustaining a career in the indie college music scene."
-- William T. Bielby * professor of sociology, University of Illinois Chicago *
"Weekly Book List, April 20, 2018" by Nina Ayoub * Chronicle of Higher Education *
"The Page 99 Test: Michael Ramirez's
Destined for Greatness" * The Page 99 Test *
"My Book, The Movie" blog post about
Destined for Greatness * My Book, The Movie *
"Campaign for the American Reader" blog post on
Destined for Greatness * Campaign for the American Reader *
New Books Network - New Books in Sociology interview with Michael Ramirez * New Books Network *
"This is an excellent addition to an evolving area of scholarship." * Choice *
"Book Explores Athens Music," in
Georgia Magazine * Georgia Magazine *
"Rock stars are made, not born," essay by Michael Ramirez * Work in Progress *
"Through his meticulous study of 48 indie-rock musicians aspiring musical success, Ramirez sketches a captivating picture of the motivations, considerations, and concerns of these musicians and their endeavors to make music their vocation." * Work and Occupations *
"A very timely and important book. It should appeal to a wide variety of sociologists with divergent research interests." * American Journal of Sociology *
Table of ContentsIntroduction 1
1 First Hearing the Sounds: Coming of Age and the Discovery of Music 23
2 First Making the Sounds: Negotiating Adulthood in a Musical World 50
3 I Feel It In My Bones: The Development of Musician Identities 77
4 Men and Masculinities in a Musical World 104
5 Women and the Challenges of Musical Life Course Trajectories 131
6 The Great Beyond: Commitment to Music and Looking Toward the Future 159
7 Conclusion 185
Acknowledgments 203
Notes 207
References 213
Index 227
