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A Satisfied Mind: The Country Music Life of Porter Wagoner

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You have got to read this book! If you like country music. You have got to read this book. If you like the weird side of country music then you have to read this book. Even if you think you know Porter Wagoner this book will give you information that will amaze you.

A rat nibbled part of his ear off when he was a child. He took the engagement ring pretty Miss Norma Jean threw back at him, when he refused to get a divorce, and had it made into a ring for Mel Tillis. He produced an album for preacher Tony Alamo on which Tony sings duets with his dead wife, who Tony had promised to raise from the dead. He brought James Brown to the Opry, and he performed country music to a disco beat. He pioneered the attempt to bring country music to crossover audiences.

This book is not yellow journalism. Based on solid research, some cooperation from Porter, and many interviews, Steve Eng simply tells the amazing story of Porter Wagoner's amazing life. If more of America read this book and knew the facts about Porter, he would take his rightful place as a premiere icon of country music in popular culture.

In here you will find the true story of Porter songs with cult followings like "The Rubber Room" and "George Leroy Chickashea". You'll also hear the unlikely story of his first big hit, "Satisfied Mind". Dolly Parton fans will find loads of information on her years with Porter.

As you can tell, I love this book. I can't imagine a better one being written, although I hope someday that Porter himself will release the autobiography which he has described as "too hot" to publish. But even then you will need this book.

If they ever make a movie based on the life of superstar Dolly Parton I am sure the producers will wisely look here for some neat information and anecdotes on Miss Parton. "A Satisfied Mind" is the autobiography of country music star Porter Wagoner, but if your a Dolly fan or biographer this book contains loads of info on the early years of the biggest superstar Nashville has ever produced. Steve Eng documents Porter's early life in West Plains, Missouri and his eventual signing to mega label RCA Victor in the 1950's. However, the bulk of the book details in implicit fashion Porter's discovery of Dolly in 1967, her joining his TV and road show that same year, and Porter's persistence with RCA to sign Dolly to the label, much to the chagrin of the label as they felt she couldn't sell records. It was Porter's statement to RCA that if Dolly lost money for them they could take monies from his own royalties, that Dolly became an RCA recording artist. Eng goes behind the scenes of the famous Porter/Dolly duet team, the biggest in country music history, their tireless hours of perfecting both the duo albums and Dolly's solo LP's, their constant touring, Dolly's signing over nearly half of her mutimillion dollar publishing empire to Porter in 1969, and their eventual split, involving broken hearts, bitter words from Porter about his protege, a terrible lawsuit that nearly destroyed Dolly financially, and their eventual forgiveness of each other's shortcomings in the late 1980's. There is more info here on Dolly's early years in Nashville than any other book written on her, including her own memoirs published in 1994. This is a fantastic read not only for Dolly fans, but for those interested in Porter Wagoner, or those wanting to know more about the country music business. Steve Eng has written a fascinating account on one of the more contoversial male singers to ever come out of Nashville.

I am disappointed with the cover of the book. When you pay $30.00 for a "NEW" book you would expect that it would be in perfect condition when you get it, however that is not what I got. The Title of the book is so faded that it is almost completely gone. I have no time to send it back because it is a Christmas gift, so I have to give it away as my gift like this. I'm not happy with this purchase at all, and now I see other listings of the same book that are new for less, even more disappointing.

Where many country music books tend to rely on their subject as source, Eng goes to many sources and shows Wagoner in all his complexity. The story of Porter Wagoner is in large part of history of country music from its golden age in the 50's and 60's through its decline and resurgence in the 80's. Wagoner is depicted as a dedicated showman, tireless worker and shrew businessman who managed to maintain a presence from the early days of music television through the spread of cable and the dominance of TNN in bringing Nashville into most of the homes in America. Wagoner's pioneering songwriting, production and talent development are chronicled here and show that the homespun public image was just the façade of a complex, ambitious and shrewd music executive. He was also, by most accounts an honorable man. Where Wagoner's influence is deepest is in his dedication and defense of traditional country music and The Grand Ol Opry. He was the consummate host of the legendary radio show and was without peer in presenting new talent to the world from its stages at The Ryman Auditorium and at The Grand Ol Opry House. The acrimony with Dolly Parton over their professional breakup is well detailed, and gives much credit to Wagoner for getting RCA Records to give her the promotional push her formidable talents deserved. That they ultimately made up is one of the many happy stories Eng brings to life.

Just exactly what I was looking for for my husband. He's always been a big fan of Porter's and enjoys the reruns of his TV shows. Service was fast and quality excellent.

Mr. Eng does an excellent job of taking the reader inside the world of Porter Wagoner. Porter was indeed a complex person, but was considered one of the great singers of classic country music. The recitations he did were outstanding. His flashy Nudie suits are an item of talk even today.

There would be no book about Porter complete without reference to Dolly Parton and her association with the Wagonmaster. This book has it all and for the first time some aspects of their relationship is revealed within the covers of this book

Does the reader get all the answers? Mr. Eng has tried to seek the answers to the many questions concerning the Wagoner/Parton years and beyond, however we may never fully know all of the answers to our questions. Inquiring minds just have an appetite for wanting to know all the details. I'm sure there is more, but I believe the author has given we the readers far more than we previously had.

The book is an easy read and one I highly recommend.

You'll get insider information about Country Music when you read this biography of Porter. I thought there was a great deal of info about Dolly Parton here also, but then the two of them where such a big part of each others lives. If you like to know what went on behind the scenes that produced some of the great people and songs of Country Music, here's another book for you.

This book was very good. I could hardly put it down. All the things I had wondered about (was he ever married, did he have children, what was his childhood like) all of this is here and incredibly interesting. I knew he and Dolly Parton had a falling out years ago and I always wondered what caused it. Was it romance or business...its all here. Great book, enjoyed it a lot.

I ordered this item for my elderly mother. She tried to find this book in her local book stores, and was told that, not only did they not sell the book, but couldn't order it either. I was able to order the book online, and have it delivered right to my mother's house. My mother is extremely happy with her book.
Candy

Eng is a constantly provocative writer, with insights into popular culture that resonate far beyond the immediate subject. This is one of the best biographies ever written of a country music star.