This week and next sam phillips who famously discovered elvis presley, jerry lee lewis, johnny cash, and howlin wolf and recorded them at his memphis oneroom sun records studio is going to be in the news as a new book by peter guralnick, and a competing 2cd set compiled by the author come out on the 10th and 3rd respectively. The persona of elvis, years after his death, is such a caricature, even a joke, that it can be hard to remember that there was a real, living, breathing person named elvis presley. Distinguished biographer peter guralnick s essential new book dream boogie. Peter guralnick on his new book, sam phillips and the. Other books include an acclaimed trilogy on american roots music, sweet soul music, lost highway, and feel like going home.
Sam phillips biographer peter guralnick talks about the man who discovered elvis, and reveals cover of his new book article june 04, 2015 read more. Guralnick is a sensitive biographer who has landed upon a perfect topic in phillips, the brilliant memphis producer who, in the 1950s, recorded the earliest work of elvis presley, johnny cash, jerry lee lewis and howlin wolf. Winner of the 1999 southern book critics circle award for nonfiction. Get the best deal by comparing prices from over 100,000 booksellers. A friend told me that the only biography worth reading about elvis is by peter guralnick. Books sam phillips dream boogie careless love last train to memphis sweet soul music feel. Nov 16, 2015 top rock biographer peter guralnick tells the story of sun records founder sam phillips in a new book. Peter guralnicks books include the prizewinning twovolume biography of elvis presley, last train to memphis and careless love. Cnn guralnick sees elvis through a glass, darkly january. Sam phillips biographer peter guralnick talks about the man. Discover book depositorys huge selection of peter guralnick books online. The man and the mistakes that invented rock n roll.
It is the first to set aside the myths and focus on elvis humanity in a way that has yet to be duplicated. Looking to get lost by peter guralnick little, brown and company. Dec 06, 2015 five hundred fortyone pages into peter guralnicks 763page biography of sam phillips, the impresario enshrined in the subtitle as the man who invented rock n roll, we get the. Peter guralnickin this, his only published novel to datehas drawn on his rich storytelling skills and his intimate knowledge of the blues to create an unforgettable character, and to give us a rare, unvarnished, utterly compelling look at a life in music.
Though not as versatile as ray charles, cookes mixing of spiritual and secular musical elements arguably influenced more performers. The life and death of sam cooke ed gordon talks to music journalist peter guralnick, whose new book charts the life and tragic death of soul music icon sam cooke. Books by peter guralnick author of last train to memphis. Peter guralnick has been called a national resource by critic nat hentoff for work that has argued passionately and persuasively for the vitality of this countrys intertwined black and white musical traditions. Distinguished biographer peter guralnicks essential new book dream boogie. Guralnick first met phillips in 1979, and interviewed him extensively for this book. Peter guralnick is an american music critic, writer on music, and historian of us american popular. Nov 17, 2015 authorpop music historian peter guralnick in culver city on nov. Guralnicks first two books, almost grown 1964 and mister downchild 1967, were short. It was located on lake winnipesaukee in wolfeboro, new hampshire. Feb 10, 2000 hailed as a masterwork by the wall street journal, careless love is the full, true, and mesmerizing story of elvis presleys last two decades, in the longawaited second volume of peter guralnick s masterful twopart biography. Until peter guralnick came out with last train to memphis in 1994, most biographies of elvis presleyespecially those written by people with varying degrees of.
His books include the prizewinning twovolume biography of elvis presley, last train to memphis and careless love. Hailed as a masterwork by the wall street journal, careless love is the full, true, and mesmerizing story of elvis presleys last two decades, in the longawaited second volume of peter guralnick s masterful twopart biography. Salon talks to peter guralnick about his new biography of. Gleason music book awardelvis steps from the pages. Thats one of numerous remarkable anecdotes relayed in peter guralnicks exhaustive new biography of phillips, the record impresario whose legacy looms large but has never before been explored. Roy orbison and jerry lee lewis, among others esteemed music writer peter guralnick portrays a legend who became. Peter guralnick s parents were walter guralnick, dmd, who helped to establish dental insurance in massachusetts through delta dental, and betty marson guralnick.
Jessica rinaldiglobe staffglobe staff west newbury few people have heard the name sam phillips. Jan 29, 2007 as part of a 1,200 page biography, peter guralnick s big book on elvis is so big, the world itself almost ceases to exist. A gripping narrative that captures the tumult and liberating energy of a nation in transition, sweet soul music is an intimate portrait of the legendary performerssam cooke, ray charles, james brown, solomon burke, aretha franklin, otis redding, and al green among themwho merged gospel and rhythm and blues to create southern. Salon talks to peter guralnick about his new biography of sam. Careless love is the full, true, and mesmerizing story of elvis presleys last two decades, in the longawaited second volume of peter guralnicks masterful twopart biography. Video and audio being added to peter guralnicks books the new. Gleason music book award last train to memphis, the first part of guralnick s twovolume life of elvis presley, was acclaimed by the new york.
Peter guralnick author of last train to memphis goodreads. Last train to memphis, the first part of guralnicks twovolume life of elvis presley, was acclaimed by the new york times as a triumph of biographical art. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. The rise of elvis presley by peter guralnick trade paper at the best online prices at. In 1971, he succeeded his grandfather as director of an athletic camp for boys, camp alton. Jan 22, 1999 peter guralnick, author of careless love i was trying to tell as honest and true a story as i could, said guralnick during a recent book tour stop in atlanta. Written with grace, humor, and affection, last train to memphis has been hailed as the definitive biography of elvis presley. The rise of elvis presley by peter guralnick trade paper at the best online prices at ebay. Peter guralnick has written extensively on american music and musicians.
Guralnicks new book about sun records founder sam phillips has just been published. He has been married for over 45 years to alexandra. Meet man who discovered elvis in essential sam phillips book. Seven of the music historian and critic peter guralnicks books are being reissued in enhanced ebook editions that include video, audio and. Jun 04, 2015 sam phillips biographer peter guralnick talks about the man who discovered elvis, and reveals cover of his new book this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The triumph of sam cooke finally puts cookes cultural impact into its larger and proper context. Reprinted with the permission of peter guralnick by the wing and the wheel press for burkes book store, memphis, tn, january 20th, 1999. The miracle of last train to memphis, peter guralnick s portrait of elvis presleys early years, was that it erased the memory of that bloated caricature of a performer who staggered across the stage in las vegas and elsewhere in his final years and presented us instead with the exuberant young man. Peter guralnick books list of books by author peter guralnick. Peter guralnick is an american music critic, writer on music, and historian of us american popular music, who is also active as an author and screenwriter. Meet man who discovered elvis in essential new sam phillips book. Sam phillips biographer peter guralnick talks about the. Official page for the celebrated author of books on american music and the cultural impact of this intertwined black and white tradition. After visiting graceland, his memphis, tn home last year, i wanted to read more about the king of rock and roll.
A new york times notable bookwinner of the ralph j. The man who invented rock n roll, veteran music journalist peter guralnick spends a good portion of 600plus pages backing up the claim made for the memphis. The man who invented rock n roll, was a new york times bestseller and a washington post notable nonfiction pick for 2015. Nov 23, 2015 in his new book, sam phillips, music writer peter guralnick profiles the founder of the sun records label. See all books authored by peter guralnick, including last train to memphis. Guralnick says phillips rejected perfection in favor of spontaneity and individuality. Peter guralnick last train to memphis the rise of elvis. Most satisfying about this book, volume one of guralnick s two volume biography of elvis presley, was guralnick s ability to humanize his subject. Peter guralnick is an american music critic, author, and screenwriter. Peter guralnick in this, his only published novel to datehas drawn on his rich storytelling skills and his intimate knowledge of the blues to create an unforgettable character, and to give us a rare, unvarnished, utterly compelling look at a life in music. Peter guralnick s twovolume life of elvis aron presley, of which careless love is the second. Lovingly crafted with crisp prose and meticulous detail, guralnick gives phillips the same epic treatment he.
New york times bestseller one of the washington posts notable nonfiction books of 2015 mr. Peter guralnicks twovolume life of elvis aron presley, of which careless love is the second. Charles burnett, mike figgis, and clint eastwood among them and the release on cd of several major new blues compilations. Peter guralnick on his new book, sam phillips and the birth. New biography illuminates life of sun records founder sam. Careless love is the full, true, and mesmerizing story of elvis presleys last two decades, in the longawaited second volume of peter guralnick s masterful twopart biography.
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