Reviews (1)

A MUST HAVE for your Callas memorabilia!
It's such a shame that this book has been out of print. A small library has this title in my home town and trust me-the book provides hours of enjoyment! The book has huge, beautifully blown up pictures of Callas in Opera, some rare and some well known (the butterfly pic), revealing the Callas genius. Buy this Book! You'll love it! ... Read more

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Washington Irving has called it "the corner-stone of the history of the American continent." The account vividly recreates the moral and intellectual atmosphere of Columbus' world. ... Read more

Book Description

David Cronenberg has been called a contemporary Hitchcock who blends horror, fantasy, and outrageous images into the celebrated films-films like Rabid, The Brood, Scanners, Videodrome, The Dead Zone, The Fly, Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch, and, most recently, M. Butterfly-that have made him a cult figure among movies buffs. Some people think his movies are repulsive and grotesque. Others call him a genius who has created some of the screen's most provocative images. Everyone agrees that he is different. Very different. Peter Morris's biography provides all the details about this remarkable filmmaker's life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great introduction (actually 3.5)
This book is a solid introduction to the work of David Cronenberg, which follows his career up until Naked Lunch.
For a much better analysis of his work, refer to "Cronenberg on Cronenberg" ed. Chris Rodley! ... Read more

Book Description

Sir Winston Churchill was a well-traveled man. By the time he was twenty-five, his thirst for adventure had taken him to Cuba, India’s North-West Frontier, the Sudan, and South Africa, as well as to battle, prison, and worldwide fame. During World War II, when as prime minister he held Britain’s destiny in his hands, he hazarded arduous journeys not only to confer face-to-face with his allies Roosevelt and Stalin, but also to witness firsthand the action at the front. In later years, his enduring passion for painting prompted travels to locales like Marrakech. (He took President Roosevelt there in 1943, simply to view a splendid sunset.) Celia Sandys actually accompanied her famous grandfather on some of his later travels, most memorably on a cruise aboard Aristotle Onassis’s yacht Christina, but for this always engaging book she herself has retraced his many journeys on four continents and sought out the people who knew, entertained, consulted, or simply crossed paths with him. And in numerous photographs and their long-untold stories she finds her grandfather’s character illuminated in new, unexpected, and often surprising ways. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Churchillian Beach Reading
If there were, in fact, such a thing as Churchillian beach reading, Chasing Churchill would be it. The book begins deliciously with an anecdote describing the author's trip with her grandfather on the world-famous Christina - a voyage that marked the beginning of the epic love affair between Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis. Wow! From the clothes to the food to the conversation, every detail drips with elegance.

From there, though, the book loses steam, for the Christina story is by far the most interesting and well written. Perhaps because it's the only story related from the author's own memories. Other content comes in three forms: rehashing of accounts of Churchill's travels throughout his public life (most has been published elsewhere with more detail), descriptions of the author's retracing of many of those travels (not well or thoroughly described) and quotes from people Churchill met or influenced along the way (or, in many cases, their children or grandchildren relating their own family lore of encounters with the great man). Only the last of these is really worthwhile and there is so little of it that it could have made an excellent magazine article but as a book it feels sparse.

With regards to the accounts of both the author's and her grandfather's travels, there doesn't seem to have been enough of a mandate for a full length book. As stated, most of the detail regarding Churchill's travels is rehashed from other sources (many of which were also written by Churchill descendents - what would they do without their famous relative? Seems they write lots of books about him). As for the Sandys' travels, she adds little new detail other than to impress upon the reader her ability to gain access to a series of dignitaries (Fidel Castro among them).

The books acknowledgements thank several of Sandys' relatives for allowing quotation from their books as well as a series of corporatations for their sponsorship. The effect reinforces the idea that writing the book was more of an ego or money exercise than an attempt at further illuminating one of the last century's greatest men. It's a shame that a book that started so well ends up on such a poor note. Clearly, Celia Sandys would do better to rely on her own memories of her grandfather than on attempting new "research".

Nice Travelogue with WSC's Granddaughter!
Celia Sandys does a terrific job detailing and following in the wandering footsteps of her incredible grandad! Starting with a trip through the Mediterranean with Onassis, and the ever-complaining opera-singer Maria Callas, when the author was about 14, and witnessing luxury on an incredible scale, even for such a famous family (i.e the Churchills). Then she goes back to 1895 New York City, and Cuba. She tell of a cigar smoking contest in 1946 Cuba between her granddad and Hemingway, sponsored by the original "Old Man And the Sea", Mr. Fueuntes, who died in 2002 at the age of 104. As both a Churchill and Hemingway buff, this was a new story for me! And the travels continue through South Africe, World World 1 France, Egypt, and in all the other famous spots visited by her legendary granddad. Some new (to me anyway), black and white photes, plus some color photos of Winston's painting are included as a special bonus. All in all, a great ride, and thanks to Mrs. Sandys for this excellent effort!

Travels with Winston
Ah, for the travelling life of the famous! When you read this book by Churchill's granddaughter, you get an intimate portrait of what an entourage WSC had when he went anywhere. There were private planes or yachts, villas or really up-scale hotels provided to him gratis, and a tremendous retinue of extra people to care for him. This seemed to happen even before he became world famous, and continued until his death. I don't ever want to take away the tremendous contributions he made to the peace and security of the world, but he certainly travelled like an Oriental despot! The book details his travels all over the world, and his many trips to America, both before, during and after WWII. If only the rest of us mere mortals could live in this extravagant lifestyle! This is a side of the great man's life that one rarely comes across in the many biographies of him, but it does tend to round out the picture of his life. While there are no new and startling revelations in the book, it is written in a breezy, easy reading style, and was quite enjoyable. As a granddaughter, the author tends to overlook a lot of WSC's faults, but who can blame her? We would all do that for our own family members, given the chance.

A chase any Churchill fan should enjoy
Winston Churchill is like a fine gem. Hold him and his immense life up to the light and turn them around some, and you'll always find interesting new facets to explore. (I have a feeling WSC himself would have appreciated that metaphor.) This explains the constant stream of articles and books on the Man of the (Twentieth) Century -- many re-examining old themes and issues, but a surprising number coming up with new aspects or approaches to understanding who Churchill was and what he did.

This title is of the latter sort. Celia Sandys, WSC's granddaughter and author of two earlier books on the man, here presents us with a Churchill biography that focuses on his wide-ranging travels outside the UK. In many cases, Sandys has herself followed in her grandfather's footsteps, revisiting the locales -- and in many cases the actual buildings -- of WSC's visits. Hence the title.

Despite Sandys' encyclopedic chronicle, I suspect it is this latter, personal element that many readers may find especially interesting. What Churchillian hasn't thought how much fun it would be to retrace his footsteps along the armored train track in South Africa? Few of us, however, have Sandys' access to places and people (including Fidel Castro), nor I suspect her ability to tell a story.

Even more memorable, and touching, are the author's memories of her own participation in some of Churchill's later travels, especially aboard Aristotle Onassis' yacht "Christina."

In all, there may be some value to the student in having the dates and places of Churchill's major journeys, including his wartime travels, easily accessible within one set of covers. But for most of us, the true value comes in finding yet another facet through which to view the man and his personality, and to read a few more interesting and entertaining memories. I admit I found myself skimming over the travel details from time to time, but the stories made the book more than worth the time. ... Read more

Book Description

There is no dearth of superlatives to describe Maria Callas, undoubtedly one of the greatest legends of the twentieth century.Widely regarded as one of the foremost soprano voices of our time, Maria Callas was praised for more than just her operatic gift.She was an accomplished actress who drew heavily on the work of Sarah Bernhardt and a world-renowned beauty romantically involved with one of the wealthiest men of her generation. Yet her life was filled with tragedy and ended in her untimely death at the age of 53. Callas Unica is a dramatic photographic portrait of the world-renowned diva.Author Jean-Jacques Hanine-Rousel traces the singer’s life and career from the early 1940’s until her death in 1977. The book contains a collection of nearly 400 photographs the author compiled. Some are drawn from the archives of the leading opera companies where Callas performed; many are from the private collections of family and friends.The organization of the photos is predominately chronological. They include images of Callas in her greatest roles as well as in everyday settings.Together, they provide a magnificent study of one of history’s greatest operatic performers, both onstage and off. A 14-page biography and commentaries by performers close to Callas provide additional insights into the singer’s life.The text has been translated so it can be read in English, Italian, or its original French.The result is a tribute that makes the diva’s unusual beauty and dramatic presence accessible to admirers around the world. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Very Organized Callas Document
It was with a great deal of anticipation that I awaited the arrival of the much touted Callas Unica. I discovered a very organized document with many Callas photos, most of which I have seen before, and a very limited text. Like this author's other books on famous singers, there seems to be a conglomeration of statements from artists who were aquainted with the subject. In the case of this book, there are pages devoted to comments of people who didn't even really know the divine Callas, such as Mady Mesple, a French soprano who shared nothing remotely related to the Callas genius. An item for the die-hard fan only. ... Read more

Book Description

These audio biographies chart the lives and work of some of rock's most memorable acts, from their early days to their rise to fame. Each CD includes comments and interview material by the artist and is accompanied by an eight-page illustrated booklet and foldout poster. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a groundbreaking assessment of the most controversial president in modern times. Ten distinguished scholars treat such crucial topics as race, women, and minorities; the character issue; foreign policy; and the media. This book provides a unique vantage point on the "Clinton riddle" that all future studies will need to consider. The contributors are Betty Glad, Ken Bode, David Brady, D. Sunshine Hillygus, Darlene Clark Hine, Randall Woods, Dan Carter, Dorothy McBride Stetson, June Teufel Dreyer, Robert Legvold, and Randy Roberts ... Read more

Book Description

Bing Crosby was one of the most popular entertainers ever to appear on film. He was a symbol of an era, embodying an old-fashioned nostalgia and a golden age in cinema. His films, from the nostalgic charm of "White Christmas" to "Going My Way," which won him an Oscar, have a timeless and enduring appeal. Strikingly handsome, with a soft, crooning voice and a relaxed demeanor, Crosby was a natural heart-throb; yet behind the image of the all-American icon was a fierce, deeply complex individual. In this new biography, Michael Freedland writes candidly about his subject. Drawing on new material, rare photographs, and previously unpublished interviews, Bing Crosby: The Illustrated Biography is a long-overdue portrait of one of America's brightest stars. Among Michael Freedland's many books are All the Way: A Biography of Frank Sinatra, Irving Berlin, Sean Connery, and The Two Lives of Errol Flynn. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An error on most every page!
In this book, we learn that, among other things, Bing's partner in the Rhythm Boys was named Harry "Berris"...... That Bing made "4000 different recordings"....... That Bing's famous singing rivalry known as the "Battle Of The Baritones" was with Rudy Vallee..... That another popular singer of the early days was Russ "Colombo"..... That Bing's mother was born in Canada..... That Bing's lung operation in 1974 was due to cancer..... That Bing's appearances on the "Hollywood Palace" TV show consisted of hosting "once a month, between 1968 and 1970 ...., sharing the role with George Burns, Martha Raye, and Judy Garland"........ That in 1962, Bing recorded "Let's Not Be Sensible" for a film soundtrack, "...but for reasons no one could adequately explain, the last word of the song, 'love', was mangled on tape...." and that Bing refused to re-record it because he was a "star", so .."Michael Holliday, a Crosby sound-alike, was brought in to finish the line for him......" This book further reveals that all of Al Jolson's legendary 1940s radio appearances with Bing were on Bing's series, "The Kraft Music Hall", and that Bing's very first TV appearance was "...as the guest of Jack Benny's first special in 1953...." WHEW!!!! What a bunch of junk! Folks, every single fact I've just related comes randomely from the pages of this half-baked un-researched hatchet-job, and is totally wrong!! What's more, These are just errors I picked at the last minute, thumbing through the book as I was composing this review: there are so many more! I've read hundreds of entertainment bios in my life (including others by Freedland), and NEVER have I encountered such a lame work with so many blatant errors of fact, chronology, and spelling (the spelling errors listed above for "Berris" and "Colombo", are not random typos, but are mis-spelled every time the names appear in the text!) How did this get published? Of course, the piece is also a hatchet-job, featuring alusions and conclusions re: Crosby's behavior that have absolutely no basis in fact. You want Crosby? Order Gary Giddins' new masterpiece "Bing Crosby- A Pocketful Of Dreams - The Early Years", and you'll get the REAL Bing, in a scholarly, analytical epic that makes this howler look like the misbegotten little essay that it is.

Filled with mistakes; nice photos!
This book is loaded with mistakes! Some are not even close to being accurate! Has some nice photos though, but not worth the money!

A Slightly Illustrated and Sometimes Inaccurate Biography
I was looking forward to an accurate biography of my favorite singer, Bing Crosby, and, as the title promises, this was supposed to be full of illustrations too. Sadly, I was disappointed on both accounts.

Upon reading Michael Freeland's version of Bing's life and career, I couldn't help but feel that Mr. Freeland gave The Old Groaner several digs along the way. I guess you don't have to be a fan of your subject to write a biography. There were several blatant errors in the text. Among these was a captioned picture of Gary Cooper presenting Bing with his Oscar while, on the same page, Mr. Freeland writes that Bing received that little statue from Bob Hope. Also, for some reason, the print is very large. Even though the book boasts 127 or so pages, it would have only been about 75 pages with regular print. I don't known if this was done because the author thought that older folks (with deteriorating eyesight?) would have more of an interest in this book. I am in my 30's so maybe I don't fit into the Mr. Freeland's concept of a typical Bing fan.

As for the illustrations, they were slightly spartan considering the title of the book. I was anxiously anticipated pages and pages of both color and black & white pictures depicting Bing in all stages of his life and career. Although there weren't enough pictures to suit me, I do have to say that the pictures included were of good quality ( althought none in color other than the one on the back cover) and many were ones that I had never seen before.

All in all, I did gleen some additional information concerning Mr. Bing Crosby but I would certainly take much of what was written here with a grain of salt. The 40+ black & white pictures will be a continual source of enjoyment for me. ... Read more

Book Description

Fifty years of the Man in Black: Johnny Cash revealed by America's best music writers.

Johnny Cash is a living icon, one of the defining country musicians of the century and patriarch of a clan that rules as country royalty. He was also a hard-living firebrand whose air of danger and rebellion made him the godfather of the bad boys of today's rock and rap--and has garnered him an immense audience across generations, selling more than fifty million albums and winning ten Grammy awards. Ring of Fire is the first book to explore Cash's life and work through essays by some of the best music journalists--Ralph Gleason, George Vecsey, Richard Goldstein, Alanna Nash, Nick Tosches, Jon Pareles, and Ben Ratliff. Whether dispatched in the heat of Cash's meteoric rise to fame in the '60's or looking back from the vantage point of his recent musical resurgence and phenomenal new albums, these writings reveal the complex soul of an American legend. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Pretty good book.
I took a long time to even pick up this book because I was biased. Also because I read the above review I just thought it was going to be awful. I was wrong. Jackie Callas is telling the story as SHE sees it. We have to remember that we'll never know the real truth behind the Callas family saga. Everyone (Evangelia, George, Jackie, Maria and of course all her associates and friends) has different views. The book is very easy reading and the only fault I found with it is that it moved really fast through their lives. One page Onassis marries Jacqueline Kennedy, two pages later he's dead. Oh well, maybe that's how Jackie saw it and he was insignificant in her life so why not pass through it quickly? Overall the book is not as terrible as I thought and if you love M. Callas read it if not anything but for kicks.

Jealous sister wants her 15 minutes
This book is an outragous display of blantant jealousy. The book has 3 parts - Sisters, The Sister (Maria), and Me (Jackie). But all 3 sections are filled with just as much self-gloating, self-pitying arrogance as the next. Jackie seemed to live out her dream of upstaging Maria Callas through her mother (since she was no longer alive to defend herself). I do not recommend this book, for it seems far too inaccurate and bias towards the fact that Jackie thought the world was prasing the wrong sister. It should have been been her up there. ... Read more

Book Description

When Albert Camus died in a car crash in January 1960 he was only 46 years old - already a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature and a world figure - author of the enigmatic The Stranger, the fable called The Plague, but also of the combative The Rebel - which attacked the 'politically correct' among his contemporaries.

Thanks to his early literary achievement, his work for the underground newspaper Combat and his editorship of that daily in its Post-Liberation incarnation, Camus' voice seemed the conscience of postwar France. But it was a very personal voice that rejected the conventional wisdom, rejected ideologies that called for killing in the cause of justice. His call for personal responsibility will seem equally applicable today, when Camus' voice is silent and has not been replaced. The secrecy which surrounded Algerian-born Camus' own life, public and private - a function of illness and psychological self-defense in a Paris in which he still felt himself a stranger - seemed to make the biographer's job impossible.

Lottman's Albert Camus was the first and remains the definitive biography - even in France. On publication it was hailed by New York Times reviewer John Leonard: "What emerges from Mr. Lottman's tireless devotions is a portrait of the artist, the outsider, the humanist and skeptic, that breaks the heart." In The New York Times Book Review British critic John Sturrock said: Herbert Lottman's life (of Camus) is the first to be written, either in French or English, and it is exhaustive, a labor of love and of wonderful industry." When the book appeared in London Christopher Hitchens in New Statesman told British readers: "Lottman has written a brilliant and absorbing book... The detail and the care are extraordinary... Now at last we have a clear voice about the importance of liberty and the importance of being concrete." The new edition by Gingko Press includes a specially written preface by the author revealing the challenges of a biographer, of some of the problems that had to be dealt with while writing the book and after it appeared. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This is the Single Best Camus Biography
I think I most love this magnificent book because the chilly reception it has received mirrors the deeply ironic incivility the French elite reserved for Camus himself. One can love Camus for his words, his insight, and his passion, but I think I love him most for the fact that he was hated by idiots. It is this theme that runs throughout Lottman's wonderful biography, and it also seems to describe to an extent Lottman's own experience.

For nearly the last quarter of Camus's short life, he lived in disfavor amongst the Paris literati. And for what? Because he, virtually alone amongst French intellectuals, recognized early on the horror that was the true nature of the regime of Joseph Stalin(socialism being virtually an article of faith with the likes of Sartre and others in France at the time).

Lottman himself seems to have had a rather similar experience in his publication of this book. As he points out in his preface to this second edition, a cottage industry has evolved in France and elsewhere in Camus scholarship and criticism. However, though that body of work is deeply indebted to Lottman's research, his preeminent role is rarely acknowledged. I think this is probably because, like Camus, Lottman is an outsider. Neither man was a French native (Camus was an Algerian of mixed French-Spanish descent, Lottman is an American expatriate living in Paris) and neither is an academic by trade (Camus was a newspaper editor, novelist and a man of the theatre, while Lottman is a journalist). Thus, Lottman has seemed at times as unwelcome amongst the French elite as Camus did himself. Again the irony is too much; Lottman has received comparatively little recognition even though he himself is an extremely important cornerstone of current Camus research.

Anyway, this book for whatever reason has received little more attention here in the United States than it has gotten anywhere else, and I think that is a shame. It is a wonderful, readable book. Most importantly, it is non-judgmental and it is very deferential. By that I mean that Lottman nowehere preaches to us how we should understand Camus; as he himself says, the essence of an artist is not in his biography, but in his works. It is long, but has only that level of detail befitting an intellectual biography of this caliber.

For anyone who really wants to understand Camus's literature, a thorough understanding of his life--like Lottman's--is priceless.

Very thorough, but gets bogged down with detail
Although an accomplished and thorough book, it sometimes get bogged down in detail. However, it is a very carefully compiled and analytical book. Good selection of pictures and details of others artists in Camus' life. I enjoyed it greatly. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Carreyed it with me for over a month...
it was my bible. After "Truman" I was starved for information and this book was just the thing (at least up to 1995, and of course I've preordered the update). Although I hadn't known Mr. Carrey before "Truman", I felt I could really get into the spirit! All the same, I doubt it can even try to do his rather complex personality full justice. I think one way or the other he's still got everbody fooled...and a book is far too static a medium for such a hearttouchingly brilliant changeling!

The best JC information book available!!
"The Jim Carrey Scrapbook" is my favorite JC information resource!! Contained are tons of pictures, bio info, and more. It's my favorite JC information book!!! ... Read more

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Reviews (2)

The review right above this one ...
is way off the mark. There's more to say about this book, but for now, let me just say that the guy above doesn't have any idea what he's talking about.

More academic leftst revisionism
While this book is supposedly meant to be a "balance" between the "fundamental legitimacy" of the philosophies of these two men, it is more an apology for Sartre than any kind of a balanced introspective of two men who shaped much of French intellectual debate after WWII.
Sartre essentially sat out WWII and offered up "Being and Nothingness" in 1943 while Camus not only wrote "The Stranger" and "The Myth of Sisyphus" in 1942, but was an active resistance fighter who fought the Nazi occupation of France. Sartre seems to have been quite envious of Camus' courage, but could never seem to be able to do anything but convert his loathsome cowardice during WWII into attacks (in the safety of salons of Paris) on Camus after publishing the venomous review of Camus' "The Rebel".
Aronson's greatest failure in this book is to try to find a moral equivalency between Sartre, who supported violence in overthrowing colonial regimes except the colonialism of the Soviet Union which he supported, and Camus, whose virulent anti-communism was way out of the "mainstream" of much of European thought after WWII. While Sartre found every reason he could to support communist regimes around the globe, he ignored the fact that the Soviet system was really an evil empire far worse than any created by the West. Stalin's forceful death by starvation of over 20 million citizens of the Soviet Union went un-noticed by Sartre as he condemned the "Imperialists" of the West. Only after the Hungarian uprising of 1956 did Sartre abandon his blind allegiance to the Soviet Union, while still supporting communist hegemony elsewhere.
Camus, on the other hand is condemned for not supporting the overthrow of regimes installed by Western European nations, even though none of them came close to the brutal nature of Soviet imperialism in the Ukraine, Chechnya, and the other conquered satellites.
Aronson's book however is really just another attempt by admitted academic leftists in the USA and other Western universities to hang onto a discredited economic system which has failed in every country it has been tried. This book is essentially not about Sartre vs Camus, but about how Marxism and its supporters have been given a bum rap. It isn't the system that is bad, but it was only implemented improperly. If only someone would just do it "the right way" then the utopia promised by Marx and his followers would be able to blossom and relieve us of the ills of capitalism. By offering a theory which places Camus and Sartre as moral equivalents, where a supporter of freedom of thought like Camus is equal to an opponent of freedom like Sartre, the left tries to level the playing field of history where the lessons to be learned are ignored or dismissed as an aberration. Only tenured professors who have never worked for a living or experienced the ravages of the philosophy he espouses could possibly write such a book. If you are looking for a book that deals with the issues that divided Camus and Sartre, you would be far better off reading "In Denial" or one of Jean Francois Revel's books. ... Read more

Book Description

Most popular music fans are well aware of the cultural icons such as Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Rudy Vallee. These stars-and many of their peers-cast a large shadow over the entertainment field during the twentieth century. Their fame spanned all of the important mass media, including radio, television, movies, sound, recordings, Broadway, vaudeville, and the concert hall. However, few are aware of the vital role these performers played in the origin and development of the crooning tradition. Crooning represented one of the most important musical styles of the twentieth century, intermingling with jazz and fronting the big band craze of the thirties and forties. Crooners spurred the rise of radio as home staple and the Golden Age of film musicals. When commercial television became a viable commodity, crooners anchored perhaps the first TV programming innovation, the variety show. It took the cataclysmic aesthetic and cultural changes ushered in by rock 'n' roll in the 1950s to finally bring crooners down from their pedestal. "The Rise of the Crooners" examines the historical trends and events that led to the emergence of the crooning style. Ian Whitcomb, a successful popular music vocalist himself for almost 40 years, provide a personal perspective on this phenomena. In addition, the lives and careers of six pioneers of the style--Bing Crosby, Russ Colombo, Gene Austin, Rudy Vallee, Johnny Marvin, and Nick Lucas--are covered at length.With the exception of entry devoted to Crosby-- possibly the greatest entertainer of the past century--these biographies (appended by lengthy bibliographies and discographies) are more thorough and up-to-date than any treatment in print about these seminal artists. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Highlights Beginning of A Style
The authors bring to light the beginning of a style of singing made possible by the introduction of radio and the electric microphone. Separate from the shouting style of singing required by the acoustic horn phonograph and theatres with no amplification, the microphone allowed a more intimate soft style of singing. The book highlights the better known performers Bing Crosby, Rudy Vallee as well as informs on the forgotten performers Art Gillham, Jack Smith, Little Jack Little and others instrumental in developing the intimate crooning style.

Enhanced with up-to-date biographies
Crooning was a distinctive music performance style that came into prominence during the Big Band era of the 1930s and 40s. Successful crooners like Rudy Vallee and Frank Sinatra became icons of the "bobbysox" generation of teenagers. Established crooners like Bing Crosby and Tony Bennett had decades long careers that including radio, movies, and television. In The Rise Of The Crooner, music historian Michael R. Pitts and Drank W. Hoffmann (Professor of Library Science, Sam Houston State University) are ably assisted by Dick Carty and Jim Bedoian to present an articulate, scholarly, informative, and engaging historical treatise surveying the trends, fads, events, and personalities that created this popular form of American music and its lasting impact on popular American culture. The "reader friendly", 312 paged text is enhanced with up-to-date biographies, bibliographies, and discographies making The Rise Of The Crooners an enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal, professional, academic, or community library American music history collection. ... Read more