Book Reviews

Reviews on Books about Musicians, Music and the Music Industry

Bill Connell with John Lynskey Allman Joy: Keeping the Beat with Duane and Gregg

Tom Clarke americana, blues, blues rock, indie Blues, making a Scene, Rock, roots, roots rock September 5, 2023

Bill Connell with John Lynskey Forward by Chuck Leavell Allman Joy: Keeping the Beat with Duane and Gregg Mercer University Press Tuscaloosa, Alabama native Bill Connell lived a fulfilled, rollercoaster ride of a life that included playing the drums for, and on bills with, several significant names in the annals of rock and roll. […]

Book Reviews/ CD Reviews

Alan Paul Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band and the Story of the Album that Defined the ‘70s

Tom Clarke americana, blues, blues rock, indie Blues, making a Scene, Rock, roots, roots rock July 14, 2023

Alan Paul Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band and the Story of the Album that Defined the ‘70s St. Martin’s Press Acclaimed music columnist and author Alan Paul has covered The Allman Brothers Band and its offshoots for much of his career. He previously wrote the New York Times bestseller, One Way Out: The […]

Book Reviews/ CD Reviews

Robert Mugge Notes from the Road – A Filmmaker’s Journey through American Music

Jim Hynes American music, Book, filmmaker March 10, 2023

Robert Mugge Notes from the Road – A Filmmaker’s Journey through American Music Sager Group LLC Readers of these pages have likely seen one, more likely several of the music filmmaker Robert Mugge’s documentary-like music films focused on American roots music and the many branches thereof. Mugge’s films are not documentaries in the narrative and […]

Book Reviews/ CD Reviews/ Music Business

The Addiction Formula – A Holistic Approach to Songwriting

Jess L'Hommedieu book review, friedemann Findeisen, holistic Songwriting, making a Scene, songwriting, The Addiction Formula July 13, 2020

The Addiction Formula Friedemann Findeisen Albino Publishing Kindle/Audio Book/Softcover If you are having trouble writing songs that pull the listener in from the first time they hear it, Friedemann Findeisen’s The Addiction Formula is the perfect guide not only for those just beginning, but established musicians as well. This easy to read book provides a […]

Book Reviews/ Music Business

How to Make it in the New Music Business – Book Review

Richard L'Hommedieu ari herstand, indie music, making a Scene, new music business June 30, 2020

How to Make it in the New Music Business Practical Tips on Building a Loyal Following and Making a Living as a Musician By Ari Herstand I am always looking for good information about the music business and how it is evolving. Most of the books I have read on the subject seem to fall […]

Book Reviews/ CD Reviews

Book Review – Mark Telesca Love Music Hate Cancer

Rhetta Akamatsu love music hate cancer, making a Scene, Mark Telesca March 23, 2020

Mark Telesca Love Music Hate Cancer Mark Telesca is a well-respected blues Guitarist, bassist and vocalist who, in 2017, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, which required surgery and a series of chemotherapy treatments. He was confined to his house for the better part of the year, during which time he began working on this book. […]

Book Reviews/ CD Reviews

Book: Jennifer Juniper: A Journey Beyond the Muse by Jenny Boyd

Rhetta Akamatsu biographies, Jennifer Juniper, Jenny Boyd, pop culture, rock biographies March 13, 2020

Jenny Boyd Jennifer Juniper: A Journey Beyond the Muse Jenny Boyd has lived quite a life, and in Jennifer Juniper: A Journey Beyond the Muse, she invites us into it. She was born in Kenya and spent her early years there with her sister Pattie (later to marry George Harrison and then Eric Clapton), Paula, […]

Book Reviews/ CD Reviews

The Pilgrim: A Wall-To-Wall Odyssey Marty Stuart

Viola Krouse book review, making a Scene, The Pilgrim February 13, 2020

The Pilgrim: A Wall-To-Wall Odyssey Marty Stuart Marty Stuart’s book – The Pilgrim: A Wall-To-Wall Odyssey, releases on Valentine’s Day. A coffee table book that through real stories and Marty’s personal archived photos, help chronicle the spiritual and artistic journey that culminated in Stuart’s 1999 concept album, The Pilgrim. Based on true events from his […]

Book Reviews/ Music Business

Book review: Ray Benson: Comin’ Right at Ya, or How a Jewish Yankee Hippie Went Country

Rhetta Akamatsu alseep at the wheel, book review, Comin' Right At Ya, making a Scene, Ray Benson January 14, 2020

Comin Right At Ya, Or How a Jewish Yankee Hippie Went Country Ray Benson by Rhetta Akamatsu As he explains in Comin’ Right At Ya, Ray Benson was indeed born a Yankee, growing up in Philadelphia, He is also Jewish and was a hippie when he formed Asleep at the Wheel 50 years ago. Yet […]

Book Reviews/ Music Business

The Professional Songwriter by Louis Anthony deLise

Rhetta Akamatsu making a Scene, music business, music theory, Peter DeLise, songwriting, The Professional Songwriter December 7, 2019

Louis Anthony deLise The Professional Songwriter The Professional Songwriter is a textbook aimed at writers who are dedicated to being successful as a songwriter. It is essential reading for anyone in that position, although it might have been better divided into two books, one about music theory and one about the music business. This is […]

Book Reviews/ Music Biz Resources/ Music Business

The Perpetual Beginner David Isaacs

Rhetta Akamatsu David Isaacs, making a Scene, music, music instruction, The Prpetual Beginner November 13, 2019

David Isaacs The Perpetual Beginner The Perpetual Beginner is a very different and fascinating type of music “manual,” which is also partially a memoir of the musical life of David Isaacs, a well-respected professional guitarist and teacher. The premise is that anyone who has the desire to play better than they are already can do […]

Book Reviews

Book Review: Carlos Santana Sound of the Heart, Song of the World

Rhetta Akamatsu Carlos Santana, Gary Golio, music books, musicians, picture books, Rudy Gutierrez, santana September 26, 2018

Carlos Santana Sound of the Heart, Song of the World by Gary Golio The story of Carlos Santana’s musical development from a six-year-old boy being groomed to be a mariachi violinist to a man who makes music for the world is an inspiring one. In Carlos Santana: Sound of the Heart, Song of the World, author […]

Book Reviews/ Music Business

Book Review: “Confessions of a Bad, Ugly Singer” by Collette McLafferty

Rhetta Akamatsu ageism, collette Mclafferty, Confessions of a Bad Ugly Singer, frivolous lawsuits, legal reform, making a Scene, pink tribute band May 15, 2018

Colette McLafferty lived through an unbelievable, yet true, experience and Confessions of a Bad, Ugly Singer is her account of that time. She is a professional musician, and at the time of this experience she was working as a session singer and singing in several tribute bands. but then in 2011, she was hired to sing […]

Book Reviews/ CD Reviews/ CD Reviews INDIE Blues

Memphis Rent Party The Soundtrack To Robert Gordon’s Book

Richard Ludmerer blues, indie Blues, making a Scene, memphis rent party, Robert Gordon March 30, 2018

Memphis Rent Party The Soundtrack To Robert Gordon’s Book Fat Possum Records Author Robert Gordon has been nominated for six Grammy’s winning for the liner notes to the Big Star Box set “Keep an Eye on the Sky”. Gordon also won an Emmy for the 2015 documentary film “Best of Enemies” about Gore Vidal & […]

Book Reviews

Survivor: The Benny Turner Story by Benny Turner and Bill Dahl

Rhetta Akamatsu americana, autobiograpies, Benny Turner, blues, blues foundation, blues hall of fame, blues music, blues radio, blues-rock, celebration of Blues and Soul, freddie king, Funk, IBA, independent blues awards, indie, Indie B, indie Blues, indie blues movement, Indie Rock, live from the midnight circus, making a Scene, music memoirs, r&B, red clay soul, Rock, roots, roots music, roots rock, the blues July 27, 2017

Benny Turner is indeed a survivor and he shares his experiences in his fascinating memoir, Survivor. He grew up in Texas and Chicago. devoted to his older brother, Freddie King. By the time he was in his teens, he was on the road with Freddie as his bass player and playing gospel music on the […]

Book Reviews/ CD Reviews Indie Rock

Thoughts on ” Janis: Little Girl Blue” (DVD)

Rhetta Akamatsu anis Little Girl Blue, blues, blues-rock, classic rock, indie Blues, Janis documentary, janis Joplin, music documentary May 8, 2016

I just watched “Janis: Little Girl Blue” on DVD, complete with deleted and expanded scenes not shown on PBS, and it just caused a storm of emotions. In a bit, I have to write a proper review of it,but right now, I want to talk about it from a personal point of view, about how […]

Book Reviews/ INDIE Blues Scene

Joseph A. Rosen Blues Hands

Richard Ludmerer blues, book review, making a Scene, photography, richard ludmerer January 6, 2016

Joseph A. Rosen Blues Hands Schiffer Publishing Ltd. This is photographer Joe Rosen’s first book. He is a free lance photographer working out of New York City. His work has appeared in Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated among other publications. Rosen is also a fan of Blues music. Rosen began photographing the Blues in 1976. […]

Book Reviews/ INDIE Blues Scene

Book review: “In Tune: Charley Patton, Jimmie Rodgers and The Roots of American Music” by Ben Wynne

Rhetta Akamatsu American music, blues, Charley Patton, Country, Jimmie Rogers, roots music March 31, 2015

In In Tune: Charley Patton, Jimmie Rodgers and The Roots of American Music, Ben Wynne has written an important book that supplies a great deal of information about two key figures in American popular music and the blues, country and rock ‘n roll music they fostered. The book is well-researched and for the most part […]

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