Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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!

"Country Music Changed My Life" is one of several text books we are using for our History of Country Music class at Appalachian State. You read short bio's of numerous legends of country music and their humble beginnings. Several artists who started in rock and roll but always had a yearning and love for country music, you observe their struggles with contracts and record companies as they change to the music they love. Conway Twitty is a major example. Ken shares personal stories of his life growing up, the tragedies he faced, and how country music surrounded and saturated his life. This book is well written, and easy to read.