The Greatest Music Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from Music History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy [Hardcover]

Rick Beyer (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 7, 2011

"Fullof tasty morsels.A delightful book to arm one for thenext dull cocktail party.” —Chicago Tribune

RickBeyer, author of the highly successful History Channel series The GreatestStories Never Told returns with new historic tales from the world ofmusic—ennobling, entrancing and inevitably surprising stories of soaringgenius, tantalizing scandal, nefarious intrigue, and, above all, unbridledpassion for music. Perfect for fans of The Mental Floss History of theUnited States or Bill Bryson’s Made in America, Beyer’s GreatestMusic Stories Never Told is “history like you've never read itbefore." (The Tennessean)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“An effortless summer read for the music lover.” (Houston Chronicle)

“We picked up the book expecting to inflate our egos, reinforcing the myth that we know everything there is to know about music history. Short answer- we were wrong, very wrong.” (LA Weekly)

“A little book you won’t be able to put down.” (Florida Times-Union)

“History doesn’t have to be boring and author Rick Beyer proves it with this fun look at music.” (Rock Book Show)

“History like you’ve never read it before…Amusing.” (The Tennessean)

“100 stories you haven’t heard will delight in knowing.…Lively, offbeat and surprising in quick-hit snippets.” (Denver Rocky Mountain News)

“Surprising…the essentials of fascinating stories are here.” (Dallas Morning News)

“Full of tasty morsels…A delightful book to arm one for the next dull cocktail party.” (Chicago Tribune)

From the Back Cover

Did you know about:

• The ballet that sparked a riot?
• The rock star who became an astrophysicist?
• The song that saved Wheaties?
• The man killed by his own conducting?
• The controversy behind "Mary Had a Little Lamb"?

Prepare to be astonished, bewildered, and stupefied by the tantalizing tidbits of music history collected here: amazing stories about jazz, classical, country, rock 'n' roll, hip-hop, show tunes, composers, band names, song lyrics, instruments, technology, controversies, and more.

Learn how the FBI spent years trying to decode the lyrics of one rock song. Discover how Watergate provided the inspiration for A Chorus Line. Find out how one megahit was born in a history class, while another was dashed off in a fit of anger at actor Robert De Niro. Meet the monk behind solfège, the aviation pioneer who created Muzak, and the prisoner who literally sang himself out of jail. Then there's the most important person in rock 'n' roll history—chances are you've never heard of him!

Continuing the successful Greatest Stories Never Told series, Rick Beyer has delivered another classic volume for history and music buffs alike.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harper (June 7, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061626988
• ISBN-13: 978-0061626982
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.8 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #299,218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a documentary filmmaker, an author, and a lifelong history enthusiast.

My first book, "The Greatest Stories Never Told: 100 tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder and Stupefy" was published in 2003. It was inspired by a series of history minutes I produced for The History Channel entitled "Timelab 2000." Little did I know that it was the beginning of a popular series of books, now numbering five with "The Greatest Music Stories Never Told."

I am a lifelong student of history, I have been interested in it as long as I can remember--probably thanks to my dad, who is also a long time history enthusiast. When I was a boy my parents bought me a set of those Time-Lie history books loaded with heroic color illustrations. They captured my imagination and never let go. I've been inundating long-suffering family and friends with tales from history ever since. But it took quite a while before I found a way to work history storytelling into my job description.

I have been making history films and videos for about a decade. I have done work for The History Channel, National Geographic, and the Smithsonian Institution, among others, making films on everything from the Emancipation Proclamation to the Wright Brothers.

A current project close to my heart is a documentary entitled "The Ghost Army." It is a World War II story of deception, showmanship, art and ingenuity kept secret for nearly 50 years. You can find out more about it at www.ghostarmy.org .

Other things I've done in my life:

oInterview Jimmy Carter
oClimb Mt. Wahington 4 times
oGet called stupid by David Brinkley
oGraduate from Dartmouth College
oBe consoled by Mary Tyler Moore
oSki race in Norway
oGet married during a lightning storm

I currently live in Lexington, MA, with my wife (see above.) We have two children.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential must for your living room coffee table!!! July 4, 2011

By james baker

Format:Hardcover

I would highly suggest this book for the most avid of music fans as well as music history beginners. It will give the avid fans awesome new information to supplement what they already know, but it would give the beginner juicy tidbits of knowledge to drop while tlaking to an avid music fan! I couldnt stop turning the pages in this book by Rick Beyer, buy it for yourself or package it as an awesome gift! You will NOT be disappointed!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars And Now You Know the Rest of the Story! June 22, 2011

By Michael OConnor TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

Rick Beyer and A&E offer up 100 TALES FROM MUSIC HISTORY TO ASTONISH, BEWILDER AND STUPEFY in this 2011 HarperCollins release. With musical tales ranging from 1400 BC to 2007, THE GREATEST MUSIC STORIES NEVER TOLD is an amusing, informative smorgasbord music fans and trivia buffs alike should enjoy.

As mentioned, the first 'Never Told' tale dates fom 1400 BC, featuring the world's oldest surviving song. The 2007 entry deals with Dr. Brian May, an English astrophysicist whose day job was playing lead guitar in Queen! In between those two are stories on the composer who conducted himself to death, the circumstances that resulted in 'Amazing Grace,' the song that saved the life of a President, the creation of 'Taps,' America's first jazz musician, the birthplace of country music, how the bazooka got its name, the coach who inspired a rock band, the relationship between brown M&M's and the rock group Van Halen, the first music video and so on.

In short, THE GREATEST MUSIC STORIES NEVER TOLD is a pleasing page-turner. It will educate you as it simultaneously entertains you. Recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Gift! June 9, 2011

By Mary

Format:Hardcover

This book is the latest in The Greatest Stories Never Told book series. It is filled with surprising stories about music and familiar (and not so familiar) historical figures. Each story is told on two pages and includes pertinent sketches and photos. I learned a lot from The Greatest Music Stories Never Told and think it would be the perfect gift for any music and trivia fan.