Country Music Changed My Life: Tales of Tough Times and Triumph from Country's Legends [Paperback]

Ken Burke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005

In this book based on new interviews, some of country music's greatest stars share personal moments of redemption, inspiration, and heartache related to the music that shaped their lives. Brenda Lee explains how her childhood singing gift raised her entire family out of dire poverty, and Pat Boone speaks about the spiritual influence of his father-in-law, Red Foley. Barbara Pittman talks about her childhood friendship with Elvis Presley, while Little Jimmy Dickens divulges how Hank Williams came to write a song for him and why he never recorded it. Mickey Gilley talks about gladly living in, then gladly escaping, the shadow of his cousin Jerry Lee Lewis, and Hank Thompson reveals how his background in electrical engineering helped revolutionize country music. More stories from Glen Campbell, Don Williams, Johnny Legend, Chris Hillman, and many others explain the inspiration and effect of country music in their lives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fascinating pieces." -- cmt.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Ken Burke has contributed to more than a dozen books on music including the MusicHound album guides and the Contemporary Musicians reference series. He has written feature articles for numerous publications including Blues Access, Country Music Live, Country Standard Time, Goldmine, and Roctober.

Product Details

• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556525958
• ISBN-13: 978-1556525957
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,267,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Journalism, March 17, 2005

By 

D. Sean Brickell (gorgeous Virginia Beach, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Country Music Changed My Life: Tales of Tough Times and Triumph from Country's Legends (Hardcover)

This book of short bios reads like a newspaper, and I say that as a compliment. The writing is easy-to-digest and prsents facts without a lot of editorializing. What's more like all respectable reporters, Mr. Burke has the good sense to stay out of the way of his subjects' point of view.

These are character portraits for today's generation, those of us who've come to rely on USA Today's "McStory" format of concise data, "I'm busy; gimme the facts." I enjoyed the sampler of such diverse talents whose impact spans history, gender, and stylistic approaches.

It's rather doubtful, if wishful thinking, but a Volume Two would certainly be worth my time and interest. Mr. Burke, howsabout another go featuring new performers? Your readers are waiting.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliant, Inside Look, September 8, 2004

By 

Roy A. Harper (Largo, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Country Music Changed My Life: Tales of Tough Times and Triumph from Country's Legends (Hardcover)

Ken Burke has been a writer and reviewer of music since 1984 for many publications, including my 'OUTER SHELL'. With his first book, he presents the lives of country/rock-a-billy/Rock artists with first-hand interviews. It is a brilliant inside-look into their lives, and extremely well written. It also provides new revelations into the rise of such artists as The Jordanaires, The Oak Ridge Boys, Mickey Gilley, Jerry Lee Lewis; and others.
No matter what type of music you are into, this book provides a fascinating read into the doings of past musical history and its
'doings' of its time. >>> A fun and informative read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read with things I didn't know, August 26, 2004

By 

Darth Video (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Country Music Changed My Life: Tales of Tough Times and Triumph from Country's Legends (Hardcover)

I always had a fondness for Pat Boone and his clan, so I picked up this book with his picture on the cover. Inside was so much more. Interesting stories from a wide variety of characters from Glen Campbell (who has a reminiscence about "country food" that is hilariously sick) to Dr. Demento (who has a gentle fondness for "real people's music") plus stories of wild men like Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Legend. AND wilder women.... Fascinating and enjoyable. An unexpected treat!