Don Perry was an “eye-witness” to the birth of Rock and Roll. When Elvis Presley arrived, Rock and Roll exploded and Don knew he wanted to be a part of it. In 1963, he sold his car and armed with enough money to last six months, headed to Hollywood to become a Rock star. Surely that would be enough time. That six months stretched to nearly thirty years and as Rock evolved and changed, so did Don’s career. “Don Perry Produced The Music” traces his journey as a singer/songwriter, recording engineer, record producer, manager, concert promoter and finally, music supervisor for film and TV. It also traces the golden years of Rock and Roll and how they shaped every step of the way.
Don Singer was born July 16, 1952 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He never finished high school and joined the Marine Corps at age seventeen. By the time he finished his four years, he had received his GED and started college. For the next thirty years he would spiral to the bottom of life. This is a result of emotions stuffed for forty years. To mask his feelings so he could feel comfortable in a crowd, he would use drugs and alcohol. Starting at ten years old he would try many things and even become successful. Then, when he had the world at his fingertips, he would chose drugs over his work, over his friends, over his wife and children, and eventually would decide to take his life rather than a drug. If you don't believe a person can change in a blink of an eye, start. One day a hopeless drug addict, who never read a book, suddenly started reading daily. If you don't like who you are and are not comfortable in your skin, here is your answer: change who you are.
(Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook). This retrospective collection includes a bio and 27 McLean songs, including: American Pie * And I Love You So * Bronco Bill's Lament * Castles in the Air * La La Love You * Magdalene Lane * Tapestry * To Have and to Hold * Vincent (Starry Starry Night) * Wonderful Baby * and more.
Smile No More is Don Singers second collection of poems. This collection delves into his struggle to understand lifes destiny. Although these poems have a lighter tone than those in his first collection, he continues to explore his fear of the unknown. He wishes to reach out to others, and to provide support through his words. Ones life improves only when ones outlook changes. Along with this message, Singer would like his readers to keep in mind that life will continue no matter what.
This biography takes the reader from Gene Autry's childhood in Oklahoma through his career as a singer and actor, and covers his later triumphs in business and sports. Of particular interest is the book's detailed day-to-day treatment of Autry's performing career, with information on each recording session and film shoot, including key personnel and interesting anecdotes"--Provided by publisher.
It's the Cowboy Way! tells the full story of the amazing true adventures of group members Ranger Doug, Woody Paul, Too Slim, and Joey "The CowPolka King" for the first time, from their first gigs at "Herr Harry's Phranks 'N' Steins," in Nashville, to their rise to the top of the Grammy heap. Since 1977, Riders In The Sky has faithfully tended a musical tradition kindled by singing cowboy legends, such as Gene Autry and the Sons Of The Pioneers. Throughout its long career, the group has branded the genre with its own mark, crafting a well-balanced mix of both classic and original western songs -- smooth harmony, hot licks, and comedy. Over the past quarter of a century, and more than 4,500 shows, 290 national TV appearances, 203 public radio shows, nearly 700 Grand Ole Opry appearances, 2.3 million miles on the road, two Grammy Awards, three television series, and 31 albums down the trail, a group that began with a commitment to carry on an American musical tradition has itself become a national treasure.
The first comprehensive overview of contemporary inspirational music, covering its historical roots and dramatic growth into one of America's most vital music genres. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship is the first comprehensive reference work on a form of American music that is far more popular than nonfans may realize. It fills a major gap in the literature on American music and Christian culture, looking at this increasingly popular genre in the context of the overall history of religious music in the United States. With over 200 entries, The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music covers important performers and industry figures, songs and albums, concerts and festivals, the rise of Christian radio and television, and other issues related to the growth of inspirational music. Scholars and fans alike will find a wealth of revealing information and insightful coverage illustrating the influence of gospel on modern American music with musicians such as Elvis, Sam Cooke, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and U2.The work also examines the use of fundamental rock, pop, and rap music templates in the service of songs of faith.
At the end of WWII, themes in music shifted from soldiers' experiences at war to coming home, marrying their sweethearts, and returning to civilian life. The music itself also shifted, with crooners such as Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra replacing the Big Bands of years past. Country music, jazz, and gospel continued to evolve, and rhythm and blues and the new rock and roll were also popular during this time. Music is not created without being influenced by the political events and societal changes of its time, and the Music of the Postwar Era is no exception. *includes combined musical charts for the years 1945-1959 *approximately 20 black and white images of the singers and musicians who represent the era's music
Don Breithaupt's book on Aja includes a detailed song-by-song analysis, an extended interview with co-writer, co-founder, singer, and pianist Donald Fagen, and discusses a wide range of Aja-related issues.
Ron Read is 58 and is in serious trouble. Scans and tests reveal he has had a heart attack and his heart is in very bad shape. His Doctor, Doctor Deschanel sends him to a major Brisbane hospital for tests. This results in him having a quadruple bypass operation. The novel traces his story from diagnosis, through open heart surgery to his recovery and his meeting with someone who didn't win a prize at the local agricultural show because his chokos had their little tongues hanging out.
This is a chronology of the most famous songs from the years before rock 'n' roll. The top hits for each year are described, including vital information such as song origin, artist(s), and chart information. For many songs, the author includes any web or library holdings of sheet music covers, musical scores, and free audio files. An extensive collection of biographical sketches follows, providing performing credits, relevant professional awards, and brief biographies for hundreds of the era's most popular performers, lyricists, and composers. Includes an alphabetical song index and bibliography.
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER '. . . a compelling memoir. Breezy and unpretentious, The Sanest Guy in the Room is a delightful collection of memories, insider information and after-dinner anecdotes' The Times 'Brilliant stories and wonderful behind-the-scenes glimpses of a life and career in show-business . . . It's bloody brilliant . . . Read it!' Michael Ball Don Black is the songwriter's songwriter, a composer's dream collaborator, and the man behind some of the twentieth century's greatest musical numbers. Black made his first foray into the glittering world of showbiz as a stand-up, before realising his error and focusing on his lifelong passion instead - music. Shirley Bassey, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Henry Mancini and Barbra Streisand are just some of the artists Black has worked with over the years - not to mention his frequent collaborator, West End legend Andrew Lloyd Webber - in what can only be described as a remarkable musical career. Yet, never one to court fame, Black has always remained what Mark Steyn coined as 'the sanest guy in the room'. Interwoven with the stories behind songs such as 'Diamonds are Forever' and 'Born Free' are vignettes of Black's life with his beloved wife Shirley, who died in March 2018, after almost sixty years of marriage. Black writes movingly about how the enormity of his grief changed his life, and how the dark days are slowly turning into dark moments. The Sanest Guy in the Room is a rich and delightful paean to a life lived through song. It reveals the essence of Black's craft, looks at those who have inspired him and allows us to understand what made those icons tick. It is also a poignant tribute to Shirley, his biggest inspiration. Told with wit, warmth and great humour, this is Don Black's astonishing musical journey and an insight into a life behind the lyrics.
This is a chronology of the most famous songs from the years before rock 'n' roll. The top hits for each year are described, including vital information such as song origin, artist(s), and chart information. For many songs, the author includes any web or library holdings of sheet music covers, musical scores, and free audio files. An extensive collection of biographical sketches follows, providing performing credits, relevant professional awards, and brief biographies for hundreds of the era's most popular performers, lyricists, and composers. Includes an alphabetical song index and bibliography.
Discovering Country Music chronicles the incredible evolution of country music in America - from the fiddle to the pop charts - and provides an insightful account of the reasons and motives that have determined its various transformations and offshoots over the years. In order to understand what country music is, and why, it is essential to understand how it makes its money — the basic revenue streams, the major companies involved, and how country artists are booked and marketed. Author Don Cusic helps readers do that, and goes even further, covering not only the business and the technology that have shaped the industry, but also tackling the question of country's relationship to the other major genres of the American recording industry, including pop, blues, and rock music. Discovering Country Music is broken down into ten sections which include: key musical trends; ancillary business trends such as recording technology, radio, and the recording industry; and prominent artists, including as a small sample Stephen Foster, The Carter Family, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, The Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Kenny Chesney. This work should appeal to fans, scholars, educators, libraries and the general reader alike.
Dedicated to glory of Jesus Christ and God’s True Word, the Holy Bible" is Don's mission statement, and throughout all of his writings he tells how the Lord has been at his side throughout his whole life. Without His presence Don could have never done the seemingly impossible things he's done.
This book discusses WWI-era music in a historical context, explaining music's importance at home and abroad during WWI as well as examining what music was being sung, played, and danced to during the years prior to America's involvement in the Great War. Why was music so important to soldiers abroad during World War I? What role did music—ranging from classical to theater music, rags, and early jazz—play on the American homefront? Music of the First World War explores the tremendous importance of music during the years of the Great War—when communication technologies were extremely limited and music often took the place of connecting directly with loved ones or reminiscing via recorded images. The book's chapters cover music's contribution to the war effort; the variety of war-related songs, popular hits, and top recording artists of the war years; the music of Broadway shows and other theater productions; and important composers and lyricists. The author also explores the development of the fledgling recording industry at this time.
Many consider Hank Williams to be the greatest singer and songwriter in the history of country music; he set the standard for every country music singer/songwriter who followed him. In Hank Williams: The Singer and the Songs, Don Cusic tells the story of Hank's life and the recording of his songs. The book includes the lyrics to all of the songs written and co-written by Hank. The songs of Hank Williams are timeless and the story of the man behind those songs is the story of a genius with a dark side, a shooting star who burned out at the age of 29. Don Cusic is Curb Professor of Music Industry History at Belmont University in Nashville and is a leading historian of country music.
Sentimental Journey is a cornucopia of 546 rang portraits that tell the story of America's very own great music, from its beginnings on Tin Pan Alley through its flourishing in step with the rise of the Broadway musical, radio, recordings, the big bands, and the film musical. The book spans 25 years, broken up into three decades entitled The Roaring Twenties, The Depression Years, and The War Years, each of which begins with a prologue giving a general description of the decade. Each year within the decades gives further historical background against which the individual songs were written -- including the political, social and artistic events. Within each year thc songs are portrayed individually, telling what made the song special and gives its vital statistics along with composer, lyricist, publisher, and when, where and by whom it was introduced.The twenty-six chapters of Sentimental Journey is finalized with a set of Appendices containing glossary, bibliography, index of composers and lyricists and an index of songs. No matter from what generation the reader is part of, the music from this book is being constantly rediscovered, and has become part of the American heritage.
The Music of The Statler Brothers: An Anthology is an in-depth look at the musical career of The Statler Brothers' forty-year reign as country music's premier group. Lead singer, Don Reid, writes about each song ever recorded by the Grammy Award-winning foursome and gives backstage insight to the writings and the selections of each composition. A songwriter with two-hundred-fifty recordings of music by his own hand and a member of both the Country Music and Gospel Music Halls of Fame, Reid gives meaningful and often humorous insight into the day-to-day workings and trials of the music industry. There has been no other book by someone in the recording business that compares with this song-by-song chronicle. Unique in its content and style, this anthology offers anyone with an interest in the entertainment business more than a glimpse behind the curtain. Covering forty-five albums of original music, this is a must-read for all Statler Brothers fans and lovers of country and gospel music alike"--
A business history of the Singer Sewing Machine Company as seen from the company president's office. Overview of sewing machine history and development. Brief biography of Isaac M. Singer followed by biographical sketches of succeeding company presidents over 145 years to the present day. Biographies of company presidents: Edward S. Clark, George Ross McKenzie, F. G. Bourne, Sir Douglas Alexander, Milton C. Lightner, Donald P. Kircher, Joseph B. Flavin, Paul Bilzerian and James H. Ting.
Don Cusic presents gospel music as part of the history of contemporary Christianity. From the psalms of the early Puritans through the hymns of Isaac Watts and the social activism of the Wesleys, gospel music was established in eighteenth-century America. With the camp meetings songs of the Kentucky Revival and the spirituals and hymns that stemmed from the Civil War and beyond, gospel music grew through the nineteenth century and expanded through new technologies in the twentieth century.
Ray Stevens' Nashville" is much more than an extensive and entertaining biography of a Comedy Music Legend who brought us multimillion selling hits like "The Streak" and "Gitarzan" or the Grammy winning cultural classics "Misty" and "Everything Is Beautiful" along with the all-time top selling "Comedy Video Classics." It is the story of how the sleepy southern city of Nashville grew and blossomed into the international music mecca that it is today. Ray Stevens was there as it all came together, whether playing on recording sessions with Elvis and singing backup for Waylon Jennings or as a part-time substitute background singer with the famous Jordanaires among many others. All of this in addition to winning the "Comedian of the Year" Award, for his unique comedy music 9 years in a row. "Ray Stevens' Nashville" is an entertaining insider's behind the scenes look at Nashville with one of the architects and laborers who built it and constructed the world famous "Nashville Sound." This is a fun and informative read that will have you laughing and learning with the turn of every page.
This series of biographical profiles shines a spotlight on that special place "Where the West meets the Guitar." From Gene Autry and Roy Rogers to contemporary artists like Michael Murphy, Red Steagall, Don Edwards and Riders in the Sky, many entertainers have performed music of the West, a genre separate from mainstream country music and yet an important part of the country music heritage. Once called "Country and Western," it is now described as "Country or Western." Though much has been written about "Country," very little has been written about "Western"--until now. Featured are a number of photos of the top stars in Western music, past and present. Also included is an extensive bibliography of works related to the Western music field.
Look What I Dun is the story of Slade told through the eyes of drummer Don Powell whose life was shattered when, in 1973 at the height of the group s fame, he was involved in a horrific car crash. Unflinching in his honesty, Powell deals frankly with the aftermath of the accident that took the life of his girlfriend and left him with injuries that affect him to this day. Leaders of the glam rock movement, Slade were the UK s biggest singles band in the years 1971-74. Their many hits have become rock n roll standards, not least Merry Christmas Everybody , arguably Britain s all-time favourite Christmas song. For Don Powell, though, success came at a price. Lucky to survive, the aftermath of his accident included alcoholism, financial woes and a life of reckless promiscuity. Now sober and settled in Denmark with an adopted family of his own, Don Powell s story as told to Lise Lyng Falkenberg is a no-nonsense journey to the heights and depths of the rock world.
Family trapped by poverty looks to escape to an advantaged and happy life through a daring, risky, amoral plan that could save all members. Intelligence, beauty, and fate direct an ultimate achievement of everyone's goals for success.
Much has happened with Delbert McClinton since the first edition of Delbert McClinton: One Of The Fortunate Few was released in 2017. That year, Rolling Stone called him "The Godfather of Americana Music," and in 2019, he received the Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award. He received a Grammy® in 2020 for Best Traditional Blues Album. This new in paper edition includes a new foreword, two new chapters, and several updates. "Asserts the songwriter's centrality in forging a uniquely Texas blend of blues, country, R&B, and rock."--The Austin Chronicle "Delbert McClinton's many fans will find One of the Fortunate Few reaffirming, shedding light on a truly selfless, generous soul. Those unfamiliar with Delbert will be instantly drawn to him and will undoubtedly seek out his music and touring schedule. When you realize McClinton was playing at the birth of rock n' roll in the '50s, shared some harmonica tips with John Lennon, and has played just about every kind of American music in every conceivable venue from dives to the world's biggest stages, you can't help but admire this living legend. His story is of endurance, sacrifice, perseverance, and ultimately success in the unforgiving often cruel music business."--Elmore Magazine
This series of biographical profiles shines a spotlight on that special place "Where the West meets the Guitar." From Gene Autry and Roy Rogers to contemporary artists like Michael Murphy, Red Steagall, Don Edwards and Riders in the Sky, many entertainers have performed music of the West, a genre separate from mainstream country music and yet an important part of the country music heritage. Once called "Country and Western," it is now described as "Country or Western." Though much has been written about "Country," very little has been written about "Western"--until now. Featured are a number of photos of the top stars in Western music, past and present. Also included is an extensive bibliography of works related to the Western music field.
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