by Bob Spitz
First published 1997
The narrator sits in his office, surrounded by gold records and memories, reflecting on the melodies that shaped his extraordinary journey through American popular music. As one of the industry's most powerful writers and producers, he has watched unknown artists become superstars and seen his own creations climb the charts. His latest triumph, the Broadway musical Smokey Joe's Cafe, dominates the theater scene this year. But success came with a price. Through each song that moved him, he reveals the struggles behind the glamour, the relationships that sustained him, and the moments of doubt that nearly derailed everything. His story unfolds in episodes, each tied to a particular tune that captured a turning point in his life. The music becomes a soundtrack to ambition, heartbreak, and redemption. This is the story of a man who helped define the sound of a generation, told through the songs that defined him.
Genres: 20th-century, american, biography-memoir, music, 21st-century, americana
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical
Tropes: rags-to-riches, redemption
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
Hardcover · Harpercollins