Showing results for "The Media" in Composers & Musicians

In the US, hip hop reigns as the genre that influences every aspect of our culture. From fashion to film, the dominance of this prolific sound can be traced back to one year—1988. From Public Enemy to The Fresh Prince, these twelve months gave rise to the superstars and styles that still resonate in songs released today. Through the unique perspective and personal experiences of Will Smith, Class of ’88 reveals the milestone moments, albums and artists that inspired a sonic evolution and secured 1988 as hip hop’s most important year.

From playing piano at the age of three to performing on some of the most iconic recordings ever made, Billy Preston reflects on a life shaped by faith, talent, and collaboration. He recalls touring with Little Richard, learning from Ray Charles, recording with Sam Cooke, and becoming a trusted musical presence during the final years of The Beatles.

A literary welcome mat to the beautiful world of classical music, this memoir is accessible and engaging for all. It brings listeners into rehearsals and concert halls, revealing the choices musicians must consider, and what conductors, players, and composers really do. A heartwarming story about passion, determination, and survival, I Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms explores music at its core. You will never listen to music the same way again, after hearing Nancy Shear's story.

Learn how this group of Australian mates became one of the few truly legendary rock and roll bands in history. Author Susan Masino traces the band's roots, from their beginnings in Sydney, Australia in the early 1970s to trail-blazing the United States mainstream to the devastating death of lead singer Bon Scott in 1980. After that tragedy, the band pulled together and rebounded to the top of the charts with new front man, Brian Johnson, and their watershed album, Back in Black.

Named one of the world's great blues-rock guitarists by Rolling Stone, Mike Bloomfield (1943-1981) remains beloved by fans nearly 40 years after his untimely death. Taking listeners backstage, onstage, and into the recording studio with this legendary virtuoso, David Dann tells the riveting stories behind Bloomfield's work in the seminal Paul Butterfield Blues Band and the mesmerizing Electric Flag, as well as the Super Session album with Al Kooper and Stephen Stills, Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited, and soundtrack work with Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson.

Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks is a musical visionary, a poet, and an enduring style icon with a truly phenomenal life story. The Omnibus enhanced Dreams, Visions & Rumours is a celebratory examination of this tale, tracing Stevie's life from her Arizona childhood, the magic moment when she joined Fleetwood Mac, and the hedonistic turbulence that followed.

Marty Friedman's upbringing was as atypical as his career. Growing up in a Jewish household in Maryland, the son of an NSA executive, he lacked motivation until he discovered the guitar. Enjoying a hazy adolescence overflowing with partying, music, and teen antics, he achieved local stardom in Deuce, then burst onto the national scene by pioneering a radically new style of playing, bringing attention to the guitar aficionado label, Shrapnel Records. Friedman moved to California and scored a gig in Megadeth.

Seattle band, The Gits and their charismatic front person Mia Zapata were on the verge of international rock stardom but on July 7, 1993, days before their third United States tour, Mia Zapata, The Gits twenty-seven-year-old singer-songwriter, was brutally assaulted and murdered by a stranger. Zapata's death sent chilling ripples through progressive communities throughout the United States. She became a cause-celebre for women's rights activists outraged by the brutal killing and lack of law enforcement support.

Secret (and not-so-secret) weapons, side-of-the-stagers, rhythm and horn sections, backup singers, accompanists—these and other "band people" are the anonymous but irreplaceable character actors of popular music. Through interviews and incisive cultural critique, writer and musician Franz Nicolay provides a portrait of the musical middle class.

He was the King of Rockabilly, and one of rock and roll's true pioneers. A groundbreaking guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Carl Perkins inspired countless musicians in country, rock, and pop music. Now acclaimed music writer Jeff Apter recounts Carl Perkins's remarkable life story—the triumphs, tragedies, and career highlights that include some of the most pivotal moments in music history.

From the moment Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson met, they were hooked on each other. Soon a deep friendship blossomed unexpectedly, unlike anything either had ever experienced. Through thick and thin, through their various emotional upheavals, through the peaks and valleys of their careers, through their personal traumas and heartaches, through the unending health issues and extreme physical pain that each experienced, and through the glare of the often merciless public spotlight, their bond held them together, and their love for each other endured.

Making it HUGE in Video Games recounts the astonishing journey of an unassuming, middle-of-the-bell-curve young man, rising from mundane beginnings to scale the dizzying heights of artistic distinction and financial success in the worldwide video game industry. This is the story of Chance Thomas, a moderately talented musician who struggled and grew to compose original scores for some of the most well-known entertainment properties in the world.

Arthel "Doc" Watson (1923-2012) is arguably one of the most influential musicians Appalachia has ever produced. A musician's musician, Doc grew up on a subsistence farm in the North Carolina mountains during the Depression, soaking up traditional music and learning to play guitar even though he was blind. Full of fascinating stories—from Doc's first banjo made from his grandmother's cat to the founding of MerleFest—this promises to be the definitive biography of the man and how he came to be synonymous with roots music in America and shows how his influence is still felt in music today.

Thunderclap Newman stunned the music world in the summer of 1969 with the success of their wonderfully odd debut single "Something In The Air", which ousted none other than the Beatles from the top of the charts. They followed up with an LP described by Nik Cohn as "one of the finest, most truly bizarre albums of the era" before disintegrating just a few months after its release. This is the story of one of the most unlikely combos in popular music history, and of the four disparate characters who formed its core.

Nothing Compares 2 U is an oral history built from years of interviews with dozens of people who were in Prince's inner circle - from childhood friends to band members to girlfriends to managers to engineers to photographers, and more - all providing unique insights into the man and the musician. This revelatory book is a deeply personal and candid discussion of who Prince really was emotionally, professionally, and romantically.

Reflective and expansive, Mirror in the Sky situates Stevie Nicks as one of the finest songwriters of the twentieth century. This biography from distinguished music historian Simon Morrison examines Nicks as a singer and songwriter before and beyond her career with Fleetwood Mac, from the Arizona landscape of her childhood to the strobe-lit Night of 1000 Stevies celebrations.

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. 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' personal archive, Saxophone Colossus is the comprehensive portrait of this legendary saxophonist and composer, civil rights activist and environmentalist.

Born in the post-WWII turbulence, The Rolling Stones were destined for greatness. This audiobook chronicles their incredible journey, from the gritty pubs of London to the grand stages of America’s top concert venues, where they cemented their status as the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band ever. With raw energy and an unbreakable spirit, the Stones redefined what it meant to be a rock band, proving that rock ‘n’ roll knows no limits.

Every Beatles fan, and indeed any music lover, should experience this in-depth journey into the legacy of the greatest band of all time. The Beatles didn’t just change music—they shaped a generation, leaving an indelible mark on our lives. This audiobook takes you on a captivating journey from the band’s early days in Liverpool to their global domination, narrated through first-hand accounts and exclusive interviews with over forty of their closest friends, family members, fellow musicians, and managers.

Maria Callas (1923-1977) was the greatest opera diva of all time with a career that remains unmatched by any prima donna. Much of her life was overshadowed by her fiery relationship with Aristotle Onassis, who broke her heart when he left her for Jacqueline Kennedy, and her reputation was marred by legendary tantrums on and off the stage.