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Eddie Cochran: The Lost Treasures of a Rock 'n' Roll Legend
Par Lee Bullman. 2023
In the golden era of rock 'n' roll, there was one name who rivaled Elvis Presley, both in style and…
talent: Eddie Cochran. In his short 21 years, Eddie Cochran changed the face of music forever—despite his life being cut tragically cut short when he died in a car crash on his 1960 tour of England. Born in a small town in Minnesota to humble beginnings, Eddie unleashed a wave of raw talent and energy that defied the norms of the era, becoming a trailblazer of the rockabilly sound and look. His smash hits &“Summertime Blues,&” &“C&’mon Everybody,&” and &“Three Steps to Heaven&” are still entertaining audiences and being covered by musicians today, some sixty years after they were first recorded. Cochran&’s guitar style and songwriting not only landed him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it has influenced nearly every major rock &‘n&’ roll musician, from Paul McCartney and Marc Bolan, to Bruce Springsteen and Joan Jett. Eddie Cochran: In Person! not only details the life and career of a rock 'n' roll icon, it tells the extraordinary story of how a collector came into possession of the contents of Eddie&’s childhood bedroom, which had remained undisturbed and unseen by anyone outside of the Cochran family since his death. Cochran&’s fascinating story, lavishly illustrated with personal mementos, scrapbooks, and even a mockup of his never-released second album, all thought lost for more than sixty years, as well as exquisite performance and portrait photography, paints a picture of what it was like to be a rock &‘n&’ roll superstar on a meteoric rise. NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN COLLECTOR&’S PIECES: All the images and ephemera collected in this book are being published for the first time. ONE OF A KIND: Eddie Cochran: In Person! is the first photographic biography to chronicle the life and times of Eddie Cochran, immortalizing the artist in stunning high-resolution photos and ephemera. BEST-SELLING AUTHOR Lee Bullman (Blowback, Twenty Sixteen) provides expert insight into the life and times of Eddie Cochran, giving an intimate glimpse into the man behind the music.The Wind at My Back: Resilience, Grace, and Other Gifts from My Mentor, Raven Wilkinson
Par Misty Copeland. 2022
From celebrated ballerina and New York Times bestselling author Misty Copeland, a heartfelt memoir about her friendship with trailblazer Raven…
Wilkinson which captures the importance of mentorship, shared history, and honoring the past to ensure a stronger future.Misty Copeland made history as the first African-American principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre. Her talent, passion, and perseverance enabled her to make strides no one had accomplished before. But as she will tell you, achievement never happens in a void. Behind her, supporting her rise was her mentor Raven Wilkinson. Raven had been virtually alone in her quest to breach the all-white ballet world when she fought to be taken seriously as a Black ballerina in the 1950s and 60s. A trailblazer in the world of ballet decades before Misty&’s time, Raven faced overt and casual racism, hostile crowds, and death threats for having the audacity to dance ballet.The Wind at My Back tells the story of two unapologetically Black ballerinas, their friendship, and how they changed each other—and the dance world—forever. Misty Copeland shares her own struggles with racism and exclusion in her pursuit of this dream career and honors the women like Raven who paved the way for her but whose contributions have gone unheralded. She celebrates the connection she made with her mentor, the only teacher who could truly understand the obstacles she faced, beyond the technical or artistic demands.A beautiful and wise memoir of intergenerational friendship and the impressive journeys of two remarkable women, The Wind at My Back captures the importance of mentorship, of shared history, and of respecting the past to ensure a stronger future.Will She Do?: Act One of a Life on Stage (Eileen Atkins)
Par Eileen Atkins. 2021
'She is the cur's cods, the terrier's testicles, the business. I will go farther and declare that Atkins is the…
finest actor appearing in the world right now' A. A. GillWill She Do? is the story of a girl from a council estate in Tottenham, born in 1934 to an electric-meter reader and a seamstress, who was determined to be an actress.Candid and witty, this memoir takes her from her awkward performances in working-men's clubs at six years of age as dancing 'Baby Eileen', through the war years in London, to her breakthrough at thirty-two on Broadway with The Killing of Sister George, for which she received the first of four Tony Award nominations. She co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway (for which she won an Evening Standard Award) and at aged eighty-six, this is her first autobiographical work.Characterised by an eye for the absurd, a terrific knack for storytelling and an insistence on honesty, Will She Do? is a wonderful raconteur's tale about family, class, youthful ambition, big dreams and what really goes on behind the scenes.Made a Dame in 1991, Eileen Atkins has been on American and British stage and screen since 1957 and has won an Emmy, a BAFTA and is a three-time Olivier Award winner. Her theatre performances include The Height of the Storm, Ellen Terry, All that Fall and she has appeared in television and films ranging from Doc Martin to Cranford to The Crown.Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever
Par Matt Singer. 2023
Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn&’t check out Rotten…
Tomatoes or IMDB.You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it &“two thumbs up.&”On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they&’d ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger Ebert had recently won the Pulitzer Prize—the first ever awarded to a film critic—for his work at the Chicago Sun-Times. To say they despised each other was an understatement.When they reluctantly agreed to collaborate on a new movie review show with PBS, there was at least as much sparring off-camera as on. No decision—from which films to cover to who would read the lead review to how to pronounce foreign titles—was made without conflict, but their often-antagonistic partnership (which later transformed into genuine friendship) made for great television. In the years that followed, their signature &“Two thumbs up!&” would become the most trusted critical brand in Hollywood.In Opposable Thumbs, award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on their iconic balcony set, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series (a move that convinced a young local host named Oprah Winfrey to do the same). Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999 after a battle with brain cancer that he&’d kept secret from everyone outside his immediate family—including Roger Ebert, who never got to say goodbye to his longtime partner. But their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day.Spoke: Images and Stories from the 1980s Washington, DC Punk Scene
Par Scott Crawford. 2017
"The pictures, which include some posed portraits but are mostly concert shots, are the chief attraction. They freeze moments of…
adolescent release, vein-bulging intensity and sweaty communion that fuses performer and audience...Vivid and evocative."--Washington Post"Scott Crawford, the man behind the acclaimed documentary Salad Days, has given us another taste of the best-kept secret of 80s in his new book Spoke: Washington DC’s hardcore punk scene."--Dazed"With music by Minor Threat, Void, Rites of Spring, Government Issue, and many others propelling the story of hardscrabble, Reagan-era D.C. as the hotbed for a new artistic outlet in Salad Days, Crawford saw the book as a way to scoop up important narrative from the cutting-room floor and find a new home for it."--Fast Company"Pockmarked with burned-out buildings and boarded-over storefronts, Northwest DC was once home to a vibrant and sometimes violent punk movement beginning in the early 1980s. For geeky 12-year-old Scott Crawford, that changed everything: He chucked comic books for punk rock and self-published a music zine from his mother’s kitchen table in Silver Spring. This month, Crawford releases a book about those days, Spoke--a companion to his 2014 documentary, Salad Days--featuring stories from local players such as Dave Grohl, Henry Rollins, and Ian MacKaye."--Washingtonian Magazine"Spoke...adroitly uses both photographs and oral histories to capture the importance of what can best be described as a cultural revolution within the nation’s capital."--Shepherd Express"This coffee table version of the documentary [Salad Days] follows the D.C. scene’s often politically-charged brand of punk rock, from Bad Brains to Jawbox, and of course the legendary Fugazi. And there’s even the near-forgotten SOA, whose frontman Henry Rollins took his D.C. energy to L.A. where he stepped in as the singer for Black Flag."--Yellow Scene Magazine"A must-have for any rock historian or pop-culture buff...The perfect punk coffee table book."--Shockwave Magazine"Highly recommended...A must read for punk fans."--Chorus.fm/HiFiNoise"A worthy addition to the growing amount of literature on the American hardcore/punk scene, Spoke will look great on any aging punks’ coffee table as a document to a vital, electric time."--Ink19.com"A forthright testament to a kaleidoscopic community. This is a rounded collection, with surprises on every page...It’s collection that rocks."--Shelf Awareness for ReadersThe Washington, DC punk music scene of the 1980s gave birth to influential bands like Bad Brains, Minor Threat, and Fugazi. Here that era is portrayed in its purest form: an oral history by the creators themselves, including nearly two hundred photographs capturing the power and spirit of this politically progressive corner of American underground music. This stunning and intimate collection features rare images from Jim Saah, Cynthia Connolly, Bert Queiroz, and many others who documented this vibrant community. Compiled by Scott Crawford-whose critically acclaimed film Salad Days provided an unprecedented exploration into the 1980s DC punk scene-Spoke delves deeper into one of the most dynamic movements in US music history.Featuring: BAD BRAINS, THE TEEN IDLES, BLACK MARKET BABY, SOA, MINOR THREAT, GOVERNMENT ISSUE, VOID, IRON CROSS, THE FAITH, SCREAM, MARGINAL MAN, GRAY MATTER, BEEFEATER, KING FACE, RITES OF SPRING, DAG NASTY, EMBRACE, SOULSIDE, FIRE PARTY, SHUDDER TO THINK, IGNITION, FUGAZI, SWIZ, THE NATION OF ULYSSES, and JAWBOX.CSNY: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Par Peter Doggett. 2019
An engaging and illuminating biography focused on the formative and highly influential early years of &“rock&’s first supergroup&” (Rolling Stone)…
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young—when they were the most successful, influential, and politically potent band in America.After making their marks in popular bands such as the Hollies and the Byrds, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash released their first album in May 1969. By the time they arrived at Woodstock a few months later, Neil Young had joined their ranks and together, their transcendent harmonies and evocative lyrics channeled all the romantic idealism and radical angst of their time. Now, music journalist Peter Doggett chronicles these legendary musicians and the movement they came to represent at the height of their popularity and influence: 1969 to 1974. Based on interviews with the band and colleagues, along with exclusive access to CSNY&’s archive, Doggett provides new insights into their incredible catalog, from their delicate acoustic confessionals like &“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes&” to their timeless classics such as &“Our House.&” Doggett also uncovers plenty of new stories and perspectives on the four tenacious and volatile songwriters&’ infamously reckless, hedonistic, and often combative lifestyles that led to their continuous breakups and behaviors—extreme even by rock star standards. &“A must for CSNY fans and anyone who remembers the era when it ruled the pop charts&” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), CSNY is a quintessential and definitive account of one of the biggest bands of the Woodstock generation.The Cinematic Connery: The Films of Sir Sean Connery
Par A. J. Black. 2022
Scotland’s greatest export. The world’s first super spy. Voted the sexiest man on the planet. Sir Sean Connery was a…
titanic figure on screen and off for over half a century. Behind the son of a factory worker, growing up in near-poverty on the harsh streets of pre-war Edinburgh, lay a timeless array of motion pictures that spanned multiple decades and saw Connery work across the globe with directors as diverse as Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay. And amongst them his greatest role, whether he liked it or not – Bond, James Bond. Author A. J. Black delves into Connery’s life for more than mere biography, exploring not just the enormously varied pictures he made including crowd pleasing blockbusters such as The Untouchables or Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, serious-minded fare in The Hill or The Offence, and his strange sojourns into eclectic fantasy with Zardoz or Time Bandits, but also the sweep of a career that crossed movie eras as well as decades. From skirmishes with the angry young men of the British New Wave, via becoming the cinematic icon of the 1960s as 007, through to a challenging reinvention as a unique older actor of stature in the 1980s, this exploration of the Cinematic Connery shows just how much his work reflected the changing movie-going tastes, political realities and cultural trends of the 20th century, and beyond . . .Doris Day: Reluctant Star
Par David Bret. 2014
With her bobbed, blonde hair and flashing smile, Doris Day was portrayed as the girl next door – a virginal…
girl that you could take home to your parents. In real life, she was not quite the happy-go-lucky blonde with the bubbly personality promoted by Warner Brothers who simply wanted to market her as a commodity. Married young, to a violent bully, and with a child, Day had to work hard, touring with bands, to get her start in showbusiness. A reluctant star, all Doris Day wanted to do was settle down to a happy, simple life but somehow managed to always attract the wrong kind of men – thugs and crooks who took their anger out on her. And yet this didn&’t stop her from enjoying sexual exploits with a number of leading men. She worked hard – not to become a success but for a job – and yet her manager managed to defraud her of millions. How could this happen to such a smart lady – perhaps she was too trusting? In this revealing biography, David Bret takes a fascinating look at the trials and tribulations behind what seemed to her adoring fans to be the perfect woman. From her German Jewish parents to her donation to an airlift of cats and dogs in Louisiana, as well as full discography and film lists, this is a captivating look at a resilient American icon.Kurt Cobain and Nirvana
Par Andrew Earles, Charles R. Cross, Gillian G. Gaar, Bob Gendron, Todd Martens, Mark Yarm. 2013
Now updated, the first complete illustrated history of the band: “A feast for fans’ eyes.” —SpinKurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, and…
Krist Novoselic comprised Nirvana, the band that unintentionally tore the music world asunder with the 1991 album Nevermind, which continues to rattle speakers today. This book tells the fully illustrated story of the band that spoke for Generation X in the ‘90s.Kurt Cobain and Nirvana reveals the history with fresh eyes, telling the tale of a group that instigated a return to punk-inspired rock. This updated edition features the writing of a talented team of prominent music journalists. It also includes performance and backstage photography, as well as handbills, singles, ticket stubs, gig posters, and other memorabilia that complement the narrative, as well as album reviews, gear breakdowns, and mini-synopses of Cobain’s fifty all-time favorite albums. Nirvana’s ride was a wild one—and all too brief. In these pages, it’s recalled in vivid, poignant detail.“Emphasizes the visual ephemera of Nirvana’s career: photographs, concert posters, ticket stubs, t-shirts, infant onesies, even a casting call for the ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ video.” —PitchforkMichael Jackson: The Life & Legacy of Pop Music's King
Par Daryl Easlea. 2016
Relive the incredible history of the King of Pop in reverse. Michael Jackson: Rewind charts the life to Michael from his tragic,…
unexpected passing to his childhood.By the time Michael Jackson passed away in 2009, he had sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide over his career. He had won 26 American Music Awards and 13 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and was ranked number three, after The Beatles and Elvis Presley, of best-selling music artists. Five years after his death, the net worth of his estate is more than 600 million dollars. He is, without a doubt, one of the most popular - and controversial - artists of all time. Now, for the first time ever, author Daryl Easlea will explore the life and history of Michael Jackson... in reverse. Starting with his tragic death and rewinding to his early hits with the Jackson 5 and life in Gary, Indiana, this is a complete illustrated history of the King of Pop: his genius, his life, and his demons. Loaded with over 300 images, a timeline of his life, a complete discography, and more, this is the must-have book for any Michael Jackson fan.Saxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins
Par Aidan Levy. 2022
**Winner of the American Book Award (2023)** **Longlisted for the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award (2023)** The long-awaited first full biography of…
legendary jazz saxophonist and composer Sonny Rollins Sonny Rollins has long been considered an enigma. Known as the &“Saxophone Colossus,&” he is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz improvisers of all time, winning Grammys, the Austrian Cross of Honor, Sweden&’s Polar Music Prize and a National Medal of Arts. A bridge from bebop to the avant-garde, he is a lasting link to the golden age of jazz, pictured in the iconic &“Great Day in Harlem&” portrait. His seven-decade career has been well documented, but the backstage life of the man once called &“the only jazz recluse&” has gone largely untold—until now. Based on more than 200 interviews with Rollins himself, family members, friends, and collaborators, as well as Rollins&’ extensive personal archive, Saxophone Colossus is the comprehensive portrait of this legendary saxophonist and composer, civil rights activist and environmentalist. A child of the Harlem Renaissance, Rollins&’ precocious talent landed him on the bandstand and in the recording studio with Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, or playing opposite Billie Holiday. An icon in his own right, he recorded Tenor Madness, featuring John Coltrane; Way Out West; Freedom Suite, the first civil rights-themed album of the hard bop era; A Night at the Village Vanguard; and the 1956 classic Saxophone Colossus. Yet his meteoric rise to fame was not without its challenges. He served two sentences on Rikers Island and won his battle with heroin addiction. In 1959, Rollins took a two-year sabbatical from recording and performing, practicing up to 16 hours a day on the Williamsburg Bridge. In 1968, he left again to study at an ashram in India. He returned to performing from 1971 until his retirement in 2012. The story of Sonny Rollins—innovative, unpredictable, larger than life—is the story of jazz itself, and Sonny&’s own narrative is as timeless and timely as the art form he represents. Part jazz oral history told in the musicians&’ own words, part chronicle of one man&’s quest for social justice and spiritual enlightenment, this is the definitive biography of one of the most enduring and influential artists in jazz and American history.Historically Black: American Icons Who Attended HBCUs
Par Alonzo Vereen. 2022
A vibrant collection of biographies and illustrated portraits that capture the brilliance of more than thirty American icons, Historically Black…
is a celebration of Black excellence in fields ranging from politics to STEM, sports to pop culture, and more.From the moment the first HBCU was founded in 1837, Black Americans from all walks of life have created collegiate experiences that enrich and transcend mainstream postsecondary education. Today, more than 100 colleges and universities are registered under the HBCU banner and over 200,000 students are enrolled. With a legacy of marching bands, drill teams, choral ensembles, homecoming, and more, attending an HBCU is an emblem of pride and a source of joy. Historically Black documents not only HBCU cultural traditions but also the remarkable stories of former students. HBCU attendees in the book include: Booker T. Washington, James Weldon Johnson, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. Du Bois, Mary McLeod Bethune, Alice Dunbar Nelson, Zora Neale Hurston, Howard Thurman, Langston Hughes, Thurgood Marshall, Bayard Rustin, Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Leontyne Price, Martin Luther King, Jr., Toni Morrison, John Lewis, Bob Hayes, Oprah Winfrey, Kamala Harris, Hakeem M. Oluseyi, Taraji P. Henson, Erykah Badu, Stacey Abrams, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Chadwick Boseman, Hebru Brantley, Ibram X. Kendi, J.R. Smith, Megan Thee Stallion, and Mo&’ne Davis.Ambitious II: Fear No Doubt, Rewire, Fly Higher
Par Likewise. 2024
AMBITIOUS II is a motivating, eye-opening venture to explore the inhibiting areas of fear, anxiety, and doubt. You will relate right…
away. Written from Likewise's vantage point and interspersed with his pivotal episodes, his knowledge, groundbreaking methods, and sincere eagerness to assist the readers shine brilliantly throughout the pages. This timely book is choc-full of original concepts, terms, and tips. Find out how to transform from a "negative noggin" to a "positive processor." Discover your personality type: are you "smooth-wired," "lightning-wired," or a "smooth-lightning wired" dynamo? Ultimately, you will learn how to successfully rewire and fly higher!The Real Wizard of Oz: The Life and Times of L. Frank Baum
Par Rebecca Loncraine. 2009
In the first major literary biography of L. Frank Baum, Rebecca Loncraine tells the story of Oz as you've never…
heard it, with a look behind the curtain at the vivid life and eccentric imagination of its creator.L. Frank Baum wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1899 and it was first published in 1900. A runaway hit, it was soon recognized as America's first modern fairy tale. Baum's life story, like the fictional world he created, is uniquely American, rooted in the transforming historical changes of his times. Baum was a complex and eccentric man who could never stay put for long; his restless creative spirit and voracious appetite for new projects led him across the U.S. during his lifetime, and he drew energy and inspiration from each new dramatic landscape he encountered,. Born in 1856, Baum spent his youth in the Finger Lakes region of New York as amputee soldiers returned from the Civil War; childhood mortality was also commonplace, blurring the lines between the living and the dead, and making room in Baum's young imagination for vividly real ghosts. When Baum was growing up, P. T. Barnum ruled the minds of small towns and his traveling circus was the most famous act around. Baum married a headstrong young woman named Maud Gage and they ventured out west to Dakota Territory, where they faced violent tornadoes, Ghost Dancing tribes and desperate droughts, before trading the hardships on the Great Plains for the excitement of Chicago and the fantastical White City of the World's Fair.Baum's writing tapped into an inner world that blurred his own sense of reality and fantasy. The Land of Oz, which Baum believed he had "discovered" rather than invented, grew into something far bigger and more popular than he'd ever imagined. After the roaring success of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900, he became a kind of slave to his creation, trapped inside Oz as his army of demanding child fans kept sending him back there to create new adventures for Dorothy, Toto and the humbug wizard. He went on to write thirteen sequels to his first Oz book. He also wrote the first Broadway adaptations of his Oz tales, and turned his Oz books into some of the first motion pictures in a small and undiscovered rural settlement called "Hollywood". Baum co-founded the Oz Film Manufacturing Company, even as critics warned that no one would pay to see a children's story. And they were right- his early ventures were box office flops and the world was not ready for Oz on screen until 1939, when MGM released "The Wizard of Oz" in brilliant Technicolor. Baum was not around to see it-he'd died in bed in 1919 just weeks after completing his final Oz book. But the book and film alike have become classics, just as well-loved today as they were when they first appeared.The Real Wizard of Oz is an imaginatively written work that stretches the genre of biography and enriches our understanding of modern fairytales. L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its thirteen sequels, lived during eventful times in American history-- from 1856 to 1919-- that influenced nearly every aspect of his writing, from the Civil War to Hollywood, which was emerging as a modern Emerald City full of broken dreams and humbug wizards, to the gulf between America's prairie heartland, with its wild tornadoes, and its cities teeming with "Tin Man" factory workers. This is a colorful portrait of one man's vivid and eccentric imagination and the world that shaped it. Baum's famous fairytale is filled with the pain of the economic uncertainties of the Gilded Age and with a yearning for real change, ideas which many contemporary Americans will recognize. The Wizard of Oz continues to fascinate and influence us because it explores universal themes of longing for a better world, homesickness and finding inner strength amid the storms.Society's Child: My Autobiography
Par Janis Ian. 2008
Janis Ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of fifteen, when her soul-wrenching song Society's Child…
became a hit. An intimate portrait of an interracial relationship, Society's Child climbed the charts despite the fact that many radio stations across the country refused to play it because of its controversial subject matter. But this was only the beginning of a long and illustrious career. In this fascinating memoir of her more than forty years in the music business, Ian chronicles how she did drugs with Jimi Hendrix, went shopping for Grammy clothes with Janis Joplin, and sang with Mel Tormé all the while never ceasing to create unforgettable music. In 1975, Ian's legendary At Seventeen earned two Grammy awards and five nominations. Her next two albums brought her worldwide platinum hits. But after seven albums in as many years, she made a conscious decision to walk away from the often grueling music business. During this period, she struggled through a difficult marriage that ended with her then husband's attempt to destroy her, and a sudden illness that very nearly cost her her life. The hiatus from music lasted for close to a decade until, in 1993, Ian returned with the release of the Grammy-nominated Breaking Silence. Now, as she moves gracefully into her fifth decade as a recording artist and writer, Ian continues to draw large audiences around the globe. In Society's Child, Janis Ian provides a relentlessly honest account of the successes and failures?and the hopes and dreams?of an extraordinary life.Chuck Berry: An American Life
Par Rj Smith. 2022
The definitive biography of Chuck Berry, legendary performer and inventor of rock and roll Best known as the groundbreaking artist…
behind classics like &“Johnny B. Goode,&” &“Maybellene,&” &“You Never Can Tell&” and &“Roll Over Beethoven,&” Chuck Berry was a man of wild contradictions, whose motives and motivations were often shrouded in mystery. After all, how did a teenage delinquent come to write so many songs that transformed American culture? And, once he achieved fame and recognition, why did he put his career in danger with a lifetime&’s worth of reckless personal behavior? Throughout his life, Berry refused to shed light on either the mastery or the missteps, leaving the complexity that encapsulated his life and underscored his music largely unexplored—until now. In Chuck Berry, biographer RJ Smith crafts a comprehensive portrait of one of the great American entertainers, guitarists, and lyricists of the 20th century, bringing Chuck Berry to life in vivid detail. Based on interviews, archival research, legal documents, and a deep understanding of Berry&’s St. Louis (his birthplace, and the place where he died in March 2017), Smith sheds new light on a man few have ever really understood. By placing his life within the context of the American culture he made and eventually withdrew from, we understand how Berry became such a groundbreaking figure in music, erasing racial boundaries, crafting subtle political commentary, and paying a great price for his success. While celebrating his accomplishments, the book also does not shy away from troubling aspects of his public and private life, asking profound questions about how and why we separate the art from the artist. Berry declined to call himself an artist, shrugging that he was good at what he did. But the man's achievement was the rarest kind, the kind that had social and political resonance, the kind that made America want to get up and dance. At long last, Chuck Berry brings the man and the music together.Coinciding with its 50th anniversary, this intriguing and impeccably researched book is the first ever exploration of the movie that…
has earned an annual spot in the AFI&’s Top 10 movie romances and a place in the hearts of millions of moviegoers, revealing the full story behind the controversies, challenges, rivalries and romance surrounding The Way We Were. It&’s one of the greatest movie romances of all time. Fifty years on, the chemistry between Barbra Streisand as Jewish working-class firebrand Katie Morosky and Robert Redford as all-American golden boy Hubbell Gardiner remains potent. Yet the friction and controversy surrounding The Way We Were were so enormous, the movie was nearly never made at all. Impeccably researched and eye-opening, The Way They Were reveals the full story behind the challenges, rivalries and real-life romance surrounding the movie. Even the iconic casting was fraught. Screenwriter Arthur Laurents wrote the role of Katie with Streisand in mind, but finding Hubbell was another matter. Redford was reluctant to play what he perceived as the &“Ken doll&” to Streisand&’s lead, and demanded his role be beefed up, with ten writers—among them Francis Ford Coppola—called in to rework the script. The first preview was disastrous. Several scenes were cut, angering Streisand and Laurents, yet the edits worked. The new version was a resounding success, and its appeal endures, earning it a regular spot in the AFI&’s annual Top 10 movie romances. The Way They Were also explores the deep, surprising love story that inspired the screenplay—the relationship between Laurents, a Jewish Brooklyn-born college leftist, and his longtime partner, Tom Hatcher. Drawing on a vast trove of Laurents&’s unpublished writings, as well as interviews with Streisand, Redford, and other key players, this is the definitive account of a film that changed the rules of moviemaking and has defined romance ever since. Robert Hofler is the lead theater critic for TheWrap, and in 2020, he received the award for Best Theater Reviews from the Los Angeles Press Club. Previously, he has been an editor at several magazines and newspapers, including Life and Variety. He lives in New York City.Bruce Springsteen: An Illustrated Biography
Par Meredith Ochs. 1204
A biography of the Boss from the streets of Freehold to rock stardom to the Broadway stage, loaded with performance…
and candid photos.Through story, images, and memorabilia, Bruce Springsteen: An Illustrated Biography chronicles the life of The Boss—one of America’s favorite rock stars and one of the biggest-selling artists in history. Springsteen’s monolithic music career spans over a half-century, from 1968 to the present, and has included dozens of tours and awards including twenty Grammys. Incredibly, his stage presence, star power, and musicianship is as strong as ever as he consistently sells out live performances. This book showcases his life both on and off the stage.This edition includes a new chapter covering Springsteen on BroadwayOnly Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself
Par Crystal Hefner. 2024
A JANUARY 2024 APPLE BOOKS STAFF PICK AND AUDIBLE EDITORS SELECT A raw and unflinching look at the objectification and…
misogyny of the Playboy mansion, a woman&’s stolen young adulthood and her journey to self-acceptance, and a rare look inside Hugh Hefner&’s final days. At just twenty-one years old, Crystal Harris&’ life changed forever when she attended a party at the notorious Playboy mansion. Picked out of the crowd by Hugh Hefner, she became one of his infamous &“girlfriends,&” attending glamorous Hollywood parties and traveling the world. Yet this seemingly alluring lifestyle had a dark side. Hef controlled his girlfriends with strict rules regarding everything from their hair and makeup to their curfews, and Crystal was forced to compete with other women for her spot in the highly hierarchal system. Living at the mansion, she felt more like a fixture than a resident. She quickly rose to the top, but being Hef&’s number one girlfriend came at the cost of Crystal&’s identity outside her role in the Playboy universe. Her fate seemed sealed when Hef surprised her with a marriage proposal she could not imagine refusing. But as Crystal Hefner, she grew increasingly restless to understand who she truly was away from what she saw as Playboy&’s toxic culture. In ONLY SAY GOOD THINGS, Crystal offers a vulnerable and clear-eyed look at how her experience with Hugh Hefner catalyzed her transformative journey from someone who prized external validation over all else to a person who finally recognizes her true worth. This candid memoir provides a fascinating look behind the scenes at a powerful cultural icon and brand, and an equally empowering perspective on hard-won lessons about who we allow to determine our value.Muse: Cicely Tyson and Me: A Relationship Forged in Fashion
Par B Michael. 2002
“Friendship, love and a beautiful sense of togetherness sew together this gem of a book. B Michael...presents to us a…
portrait of a woman who was a rare gift to fashion and culture.” —EDWARD ENNINFUL, OBE, Editor-in-Chief, British Vogue & European Editorial Director, VogueA poignant and glorious photographic memoir that pays homage to the lifelong friendship between the legendary Cicely Tyson and acclaimed fashion designer B Michael, who worked with her to make her gorgeous through her last bow.What greater act of friendship is there than making someone dear look and feel their most beautiful and powerful? That was the priceless gift acclaimed designer B Michael gave to one of Hollywood’s greatest actresses, Cicely Tyson over the course of their close, decades-long relationship. In this glorious four-color visual memoir packed with stunning photographs, many never before seen, B Michael recalls the bond they shared and what it was like to dress the Queen of Hollywood for all the extraordinary events of her life.In 2005, B was summoned to create a suitable wardrobe for Ms. Tyson for a high-octane weekend hosted by Oprah Winfrey. That first successful interaction led to a nearly twenty-year-long personal and professional collaboration that defined the Hollywood star’s personal aesthetic and showcased her impeccable personality and style. B was with Ms. Tyson for the most glamorous times—the Academy Awards, the Emmy Awards, White House functions, glittering galas, high-profile funerals—as well as the tenderest days. Their circle included a who’s who of Black celebrities, including Sidney Poitier, Barack Obama, Common, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Lenny Kravitz, Viola Davis, Oprah, Tyler Perry, Valerie Simpson, Phylicia Rashad, and many more, most of whom are featured in personal and paparazzi photographs in these pages.Throughout their time together, B and Cicely enjoyed shocking the fashionistas, shattering inane rules limiting what a woman of a certain age should wear, devoted themselves to changing the world for the better through philanthropic efforts, laughed, cried, and inspired and celebrated each other’s excellence. In this stunning book featuring studio photos, candids from the author’s personal collection, and paparazzi shots, B shares every aspect of their time together—from the drama of a good sleeve to how to be the best friend possible to those we love.Whether you’re a fan of pop culture, couture, Hollywood, B, or Cicely Tyson, Muse is a reminder that we all have the power to be showstoppers in our own lives.Includes written contributions from Lenny Kravitz, Bridget Foley, Susan Fales Hill, and Valerie Simpson.